Germany’s Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) has launched a new offshore wind auction to install 1.8 GW of offshore wind power projects in the North Sea, with an expected grid connection date of 2028.

The last day to submit the bids is August 1, 2023.

The agency has identified four designated areas in proximity to existing wind farms.

Two are located approximately 35 km north of Nordine and have a combined generation capacity of 900 MW. The other two are located 90 km northwest of Borkum and are projected to have a generation capacity of 900 MW.

These areas have been earmarked for offshore wind development as part of Germany’s efforts to expand its renewable energy sources and increase its clean energy output.

The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has conducted a pre-examination of the designated areas for marine environment, subsoil composition, and wind and oceanographic conditions. This will save successful bidders the effort of carrying out these investigations after winning the bid.

Successful bidders will receive the right to apply to the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency for planning permission to develop the areas with an offshore wind farm. In addition, they can also claim to connect the wind farm to the grid to evacuate the power.

Germany’s earlier offshore wind energy auction for 604 MW received bids for only 203 MW.

BSH published the area development plan 2023 aimed at helping Germany achieve its target of expanding offshore wind energy to 30 GW by 2030. The plan included mappings for deploying wind turbines in the North and Baltic Seas, where the country sees immense potential for offshore wind.

The BSH plan will support the European Commission’s target to increase Europe’s total offshore wind capacity up to 60 GW by the end of the decade and 300 GW by 2050. To help achieve the European Union’s climate neutrality goals, the Commission has proposed the capacity enhancement of ocean energy among other emerging technologies, particularly floating wind and solar.