The German government has postponed tenders for the N-10.1 and N-10.2 offshore wind sites. Originally scheduled for auction this year, these sites will now be tendered in 2027, with the timeline set by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH).
On January 28, the Federal Cabinet approved an amendment suspending offshore wind energy tenders in 2026. This is part of a law to accelerate hydrogen availability and amend energy regulations, according to the German Offshore Wind Energy Association (BWO).
The tenders for the two areas, totaling 2.5 GW, were initially planned for February and June 2026, after failing to receive bids in August 2025.
The draft legislation indicates that the postponement will not impact the Offshore Wind Energy Act’s expansion targets, said BWO. The association called for a redesign of the auction system following last year’s tender results.
In August 2025, BWO criticized the auction design for imposing excessive risks on developers and urged the government to adopt Contracts for Difference (CfD) and long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs).
The decision to delay the tenders follows calls from BWO and other industry groups to reform the tendering system. They cited the failed auctions and slow grid connections in 2025 as reasons Germany might miss its 2030 offshore wind target.
The organization supported the delay but emphasized that new tender timelines should be disclosed early. They advocate using the delay to establish a new auction design based on CfDs.
“The BWO has consistently advocated for delaying the auctions. The cabinet’s decision aligns with this view,” said Hans Sohn, Head of Policy and Communications at BWO. “Further auctions under the current rules would be risky. We need a new design based on bilateral CfDs with indexation to mitigate risks and encourage investment.”
BWO also stressed the importance of early information about grid infrastructure delays to realistically assess risks and avoid unfavorable tender outcomes.
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Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz