Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) has opened a consultation on a draft amendment to the Wind Energy at Sea Act (WindSeeG). The amendment proposes changes to the offshore wind tender system, including bilateral Contracts for Difference (CfDs) and an extended operating period for new wind farms.
The draft, presented on August 10, maintains Germany’s goal of 70 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2045 and outlines annual tenders between 2 GW and 4.8 GW. These proposals follow an unsuccessful 2.5 GW tender for the N-10.1 and N-10.2 sites, which drew no bids in August 2025. Consequently, the next tender for these sites was delayed to 2027.
The German Offshore Wind Energy Association (BWO) supports the inclusion of bilateral CfDs in the draft but suggests that they should be part of the tender design instead of a fallback option only used if a project lacks a developer willing to proceed without price hedging.
BWO and other industry groups have advocated for CfDs in Germany’s offshore wind auctions. In November 2025, they also recommended long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) and extending the operating period for new offshore wind farms to 35 years, which the amendment now includes.
The amendment also opens opportunities for cross-border offshore wind projects. BWO criticized the lack of a mechanism to allow projects from the 2023–2025 tender rounds to be returned and re-tendered. The association proposed this in May, suggesting it would allow non-viable projects to be returned under defined conditions, such as forfeiting payments and providing preliminary studies for future use.
In January, BWO and other groups warned that the failed 2025 tender and grid connection delays threatened future investment and Germany’s 2030 expansion targets. In June, the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) suggested design changes for several offshore wind areas, including N-10.1 and N-10.2, in preparation for their re-tender in 2027.
Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz