Germany Could Tap Into 82 GW of Offshore Wind with Co-Use of Space, Bigger Turbines – Study

Germany has the potential to have 82 GW of offshore wind capacity installed by 2045 – 12 GW more than the federal government currently plans to have connected to the grid by that time, according to a new study by the Fraunhofer IWES research institute.

The German Government recently established increased offshore wind targets, as well as the timeline to reach them, with plans to have 30 GW of operational offshore wind by 2030, 40 GW by 2035, and at least 70 GW by 2045.

With strategies for a more efficient use of available space and tapping into additional capacity with new offshore wind technologies, the country can increase the total potential of installed offshore wind capacity until 2045 to 82 GW, according to the study.

The study, jointly commissioned by the Federal Association of Wind Farm Operators Offshore (BWO) and the Federal Association of Energy and Water Management (BDEW), has modeled future offshore wind energy potential in the Exclusive Economic Zone (AWZ) of the Federal Republic of Germany using three area settings.

A clever combination of developing new areas and increasing the efficiency of areas already used for offshore wind energy generation is important, according to BWO.

“Of course, when designating new areas, you have to proceed with a sense of proportion”, said BWO Managing Director Stefan Thimm. “We were particularly pleased to see that all users of the North and Baltic Seas recognize the importance of offshore wind energy and have signaled their willingness to compromise with regard to the shared use of areas. Our goal is a situation in which no type of use emerges as a loser”.

Furthermore, modernisation of offshore wind turbines can significantly increase the yield on existing areas, according to Kerstin Andreae, CEO of BDEW, classifying the results of the study. 

“More installed capacity does not automatically mean significantly more energy yield”, Kerstin Andreae said. “In parallel with the development of new areas, we must therefore also keep an eye on area efficiency – i.e. the yield per square kilometer. The study clearly shows that”.

The new expansion goals are realistic and feasible, according to Andreae and Thimm, who said that this should also be reflected in the corresponding co-use scenarios in the area development plan. Which of the identified co-use potentials would then actually be leveraged must be shown in further dialogue with politicians and the relevant interest groups, according to BWO.

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