At the end of June 2026, 1,764 offshore wind turbines with a combined capacity of 10.8 GW were in operation in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea. During the first half of 2026, 84 new turbines with a total capacity of 1,077 MW were connected to the grid. A further 22 turbines totalling 323 MW have been installed at the Borkum Riffgrund 3 and He Dreiht offshore wind farms and the Nordseecluster A project but have not yet entered operation. Final investment decisions (FIDs) have been taken for offshore wind projects with a combined capacity of 2.6 GW. Another 17.5 GW of projects have been awarded contracts, but no FID has yet been completed.
According to current plans, Germany is expected to have 30 GW of offshore wind capacity installed by 2032. The figures are based on data collected by Deutsche WindGuard on behalf of industry organisations including BWE, BWO, VDMA Power Systems, WAB, WindEnergy Network and the Offshore Wind Energy Foundation.
Although offshore wind development in Germany continues, recent auction results indicate that the current framework no longer reflects market conditions. The lack of bids in the August 2025 auction highlighted the need to revise the Offshore Wind Energy Act (WindSeeG).
The industry is seeking greater clarity for awarded projects and a stable regulatory framework for developers, manufacturers, suppliers and investors. Preparations are also underway for the next auction rounds planned for 2027.
Industry associations are calling for a more predictable and internationally competitive investment framework for future offshore wind projects. They propose replacing the current auction design with an indexed, two-sided Contract for Difference (CfD) model.
According to the associations, such a mechanism would reduce financing risks, improve project bankability and support more stable electricity costs for industry and consumers. They also call for a mechanism to support long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) and make them more suitable for financing.
The industry highlights the need to secure a pathway for offshore wind projects awarded between 2023 and 2025. Where projects can no longer be realised due to changed market conditions and increased risks, the associations propose introducing a legally defined option to return projects and quickly reopen affected areas for new tenders.
This would help maintain access to available sites and grid connections while providing greater certainty for the supply chain.
