Germany to Auction Off 5.5 GW of Offshore Wind Capacity in 2024

February 22, 2024, by Adnan Memija

Germany’s Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has verified that three offshore wind areas in the North Sea, with a combined capacity of 5.5 GW, are approved for auction later this year.

The BSH issued the fourth WindSeeV regulation, which contains the preliminary area investigation results for constructing offshore wind farms in three areas in the North Sea’s German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

By issuing this regulation on 20 February, the BSH determined the suitability of areas N-9.1, N-9.2, and N-9.3 in the North Sea for offshore wind energy with a total capacity of 5,500 MW. The tender will be held by the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) later this year.

The statutory bidding date for the BNetzA’s tenders, which are planned to be announced by the agency by 1 March at the latest, is 1 August.

Area N-9.1 covers 158 square kilometres with an installed capacity of 2 GW. The area is located approximately 98 kilometres off the Dutch Island of Ameland and 107 kilometres off the German Island of Borkum.

Area N-9.2 covers 157 square kilometres and has the potential to host 2 GW of offshore wind capacity. It is located about 101 kilometres off the nearest island of Ameland while the nearest German island, Borkum, is 111 kilometres away.

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The last area N-9.3 has a size of 106 square kilometres and it was determined that the capacity to be installed is 1,500 MW.

The shortest distance to the nearest island, Rottumerplaat (the Netherlands), is approximately 108 kilometres. The nearest German island is Borkum and the shortest distance to that island is also around 108 kilometres.

“With the entry into force of the 4th WindSeeV, the BSH is giving the offshore industry planning and legal certainty for the construction of 3 wind farms with an installed capacity of 5,500 MW in the North Sea. This marks another major milestone on the way to Germany’s 70 GW target,” said Helge Heegewaldt, BSH President.

Recently, BSH sent a letter to the Federal Network Agency saying that three of the planned new offshore grid connection systems, which will connect to four offshore wind sites to be tendered this year and in 2026, will be delayed up to two years.

The offshore grids whose commissioning date had been pushed back are NOR-9-1, NOR-9-2, and NOR 11-2. These will connect the offshore wind farms in the areas N-9.1, N-9.2, and N-11.2, as well as the area N-13.1 to the German grid.

The reasons for the expected delays in offshore grid expansion are said to include supply chain bottlenecks.

Last month, the German government launched a tender for two sites, including N-11.2.