Offshore Wind Jobs Mark Double-Digit Growth in Germany

German offshore wind industry created 1,800 new jobs in 2015, bringing the total to 20,500 jobs or 10 per cent more compared to 2014, data presented by the German Wind Energy Association (BWE), VDMA Power Systems and the Offshore Wind Industry Alliance (OWIA) shows.

The growth in employment in the offshore wind industry in Germany was based on the creation of 2,500 new jobs in maintenance and operations, according to the recently published analysis – “Beschäftigung in Deutschland durch Windenergie” (Employment in Germany’s Wind Industry).

Increasing investment on land and the decline in offshore investment in 2016 will accordingly be reflected in fluctuations in employment again, buy employment in the wind industry will remain overall very high in coming years, according to the analysts.

Overall, the wind industry in Germany supported 143,000 direct and indirect jobs in 2015, generating revenues of about EUR 13 billion.

The three industry associations accentuated that the wind industry can look back at three very good years and has at least another two good years ahead of it in terms of the new installation of turbines on land and at sea.

“Strong industrial production and the growing number of turbines installed provide an optimistic view of employment in Germany in the medium term as well,” said Urs Wahl, manager of public affairs for OWIA, adding that the domestic market showcases quality products and services.

However, the three associations point out that a view of the market in the early 2020s shows some risk. In compliance with the 2017 Renewable Energy Sources Act, there will be significant reductions in the German market by then – making future developments in wind energy across all of Europe more decisive.

“The wind industry in 2016 consolidated its position amongst Germany’s innovation-driven industries of the future, supporting more than 150,000 jobs,” the three industry associations state.

”Now it’s important to safeguard newly created jobs and at the same time continue to exploit all opportunities for growth. Politicians are now called upon to set up reliable framework conditions and industrial policy in Germany as well as to design intelligent energy policies that affect other countries. The energy transition is a global megatrend and wind energy is at the core of the world’s future energy systems. Jobs of the future will arise in the wind industry, making it an important employer around the globe.”