Germany is reaffirming its commitment to offshore wind energy, categorically rejecting any suggestion of lowering its legal target of reaching 70 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity by 2045. The German Offshore Wind Energy Association (BWO) has called current debates on potential reductions “a farce” and “economically short-sighted”.

“Offshore wind energy is the cornerstone of a successful energy transition and industrial transformation,” states Stefan Thimm, Managing Director of the BWO. According to Thimm, cutting back on expansion now might save costs in grid development but would ultimately result in higher energy costs and strategic dependency.

At present, Germany has 8.5 GW of installed offshore wind capacity, placing it second only to the United Kingdom in the European market. According to data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Europe added a record 8.48 GW of offshore wind in 2024, bringing the total cumulative capacity to 36 GW. Germany contributed 269 MW to this total—an increase from 2023, yet far behind other European leaders such as the UK (14.7 GW), the Netherlands (4.7 GW), and Denmark (2.7 GW).

Despite this, Germany remains a critical market, with 8.9 GW already under construction and an additional 25.2 GW awarded but not yet built. These figures underscore the urgency of maintaining long-term targets to unlock future capacity and investment.

A target that strengthens industry

The BWO’s firm position is rooted in the need for certainty within the energy sector and its supply chain. “Our industry needs reliability, not debates over reduced targets that jeopardise planning and investment,” Thimm emphasises.

Stable and ambitious targets are essential to enable planning, scale up production, and create jobs across Germany and Europe. The association warns that lowering national ambitions could result in greater imports of hydrogen and liquefied natural gas (LNG), driving up energy costs and undermining energy security.

The BWO also highlights that offshore wind energy receives no subsidies and instead generates billions of euros in auction revenues, which are reinvested in grid expansion. “Offshore wind reliably supplies large volumes of electricity and makes a significant contribution to the stability of the energy system,” adds Thimm.

Boosting profitability without lowering ambition

Looking ahead to the next legislative term, the BWO proposes three key measures to improve the profitability of offshore wind expansion without compromising the 70 GW target:

1. Cooperation with neighbouring countries. The association suggests that efficient offshore wind farms in countries like Denmark could count towards Germany’s national target if they are directly connected to the German grid. This would reduce construction density in the North and Baltic Seas, minimise wake effects, and improve overall generation efficiency.

2. Longer operational lifespans. The BWO calls for regulations allowing early-generation wind farms to operate beyond their currently prescribed lifetimes, provided they remain viable under market conditions. This would maximise the use of existing infrastructure and reduce grid-related costs.

3. More flexible implementation timelines. Current plans foresee a peak in offshore wind expansion by the end of this decade, causing a shortage of components and sharp cost increases. Thimm urges the government to allow developers to distribute projects more evenly until 2031, thereby stabilising the market and avoiding excessive demand spikes.

Long-term vision over short-term challenges

For Thimm, it is crucial that the next federal government remains committed to the long-term strategy and does not allow short-term political or market pressures to derail structural energy goals. “We must not make the mistake of responding to short-term challenges with long-term discouragement,” he warns.

He concludes: “Supply security, competitiveness and climate protection can only be achieved through a robust offshore wind expansion—and for that we need stable and reliable targets.”

Germany now finds itself at a crossroads. While progress in 2024 was modest, the existing infrastructure and industrial capacity position the country well for significant growth in the coming decade. The BWO’s message is clear: the energy transition cannot be delayed—much less reversed.