German offshore wind industry urges for auctions to be postponed until 2026.
Germany s offshore wind sector spent much of last month lobbying Berlin to adjust the timetable and design of its next major seabed tenders, following an auction failure earlier this year. Energy Industry Association BDEW, Offshore Wind Organisation BWO, Engineering Federation VDMA and Germany's transmission system operators joined together in an appeal calling upon Berlin to postpone planned June 2026 auctions until later in that year, giving developers more time to improve project concepts while lawmakers could complete reforms to investment conditions and spatial planning regulations in German territorial waters
Intervention was necessary following an August 2025 auction that attracted no bids, in stark contrast to Germany s record-setting 2023 tender in which BP and TotalEnergies pledged billions of euros as option fees in order to secure lease rights in both the North and Baltic Seas. Industry leaders including BDEW head Kerstin Andreae have linked the lack of new bids to increased power market risks, higher financing costs and supply chain bottlenecks as well as concerns that turbine spacing rules in new zones might limit output through wake effects. Stefan Thimm, Chief Executive Officer of BWO, has advocated for an updated auction regime which incorporates contracts for difference and power purchase agreements as well as 35 year standard operating licenses for offshore wind farms. Furthermore, more proportionate penalties should be introduced when cancellation of awards occurs late [1.]
As Germany connected 1,639 offshore wind turbines to their grid in 2025 and expansion was effectively frozen, the industry now expects the 30 gigawatt milestone to be met much sooner - in 2031 rather than 2030. Therefore, debate surrounding 2026 auction timing has become a critical gauge of Germany's ability to quickly restore investor trust after its failed 2025 sale while upholding long term system planning objectives in both North and Baltic Seas.
Global offshore wind targets are under review but still support rapid expansion.
Though market uncertainty was present at COP30, think tank Ember and the Global Offshore Wind Alliance released during it an analysis offering more optimistic global projections of offshore wind's trajectory to 2030. According to this research study, current offshore wind targets announced by governments worldwide remain sufficient enough to support a tripling of installed capacity by the end of this decade, even accounting for recent delays or cancellations in United States market.
This report relied on the Global Wind Energy Council's Global Offshore Wind Report 2025 and assessed announced national ambitions against realistic delivery pathways within existing policy frameworks. Its analysis found that while permitting delays, grid bottlenecks, inflationary pressures, and shifting political priorities had caused short term volatility, targets in key basins like North Sea, Baltic Sea, East Asia and parts of Latin America still showed steep growth if implementation risks could be managed effectively.This analysis was highlighted at COP30 events hosted by Global Offshore Wind Alliance to accelerate deployment and foster an equitable offshore wind transition
Marine and offshore service providers should expect that these findings confirm expectations of a robust medium term project pipeline spanning installation, operations and maintenance, grid connection work scopes as well as repricing or restructuring in markets like the US or parts of Europe, even as individual projects face repricing or restructuring. Firm national targets, rising regional collaboration for offshore grids and climate diplomacy commitments at COP30 suggest demand for specialist vessels, ports and supply chain capacity could remain strong into 2030 provided regulatory and offtake frameworks evolve to address recent cost shocks as well as revenue risks.
Climate diplomacy and industry alliances ensure offshore wind remains high on the agenda at COP30.
Offshore wind has maintained its position as an important player on the international climate stage during COP30, as governments and companies highlighted its role in providing net zero power systems. The Global Offshore Wind Alliance reported clear momentum in coalition building while calling for fair deployment - particularly opportunities available to coastal states with strong wind resources but limited existing infrastructure - including Chile with its extensive coastline and excellent southern winds regime as possible regional hubs for offshore wind development and green hydrogen production.
These diplomatic and analytical developments occurred as markets struggled with the practical ramifications of rising capital costs and shifting policies in major economies. For the maritime sector, COP30 reinforced that offshore wind remains central to energy transition planning and that long-term expectations of tripling capacity by 2030 remain intact at target levels.However, experience from Germany as well as recent slowdowns in United States projects demonstrate that reaching those targets requires timely regulatory adjustments, predictable auction frameworks and coordinated grid and port investments that support large scale build outs in key sea basins.