Germany adds 1.1GW of offshore wind in H1

Germany added 1.1GW of offshore wind capacity in the first six months of 2026, taking its installed offshore wind fleet above the 10GW mark to 10.8GW, industry data showed on Tuesday.

A total of 84 turbines with a combined capacity of 1,077MW were commissioned between January and June, according to figures compiled by Deutsche WindGuard on behalf of several industry associations.

Another 22 turbines totalling 323MW are currently under construction at the Borkum Riffgrund 3, He Dreiht and North Sea Cluster A offshore wind farms, but have not yet entered commercial operation.

Projects with a combined capacity of 2.6GW have already reached final investment decision (FID), while a further 17.5GW has been awarded but is yet to secure FID, the report said. Based on current project schedules, Germany is expected to have around 30GW of offshore wind capacity installed by 2032.

Despite the strong build-out, industry associations BWE, BWO, VDMA, WAB e.V., WindEnergy Network e.V. and Stiftung Offshore-Windenergie warned that the current regulatory framework is undermining future investments, pointing to the failed August 2025 offshore wind auction, which attracted no bids.

The groups called on the German government to amend the Offshore wild law this summer by replacing the current negative bidding system with two-sided, index-linked CfDs.

“The industry wishes to prepare for the 2027 tenders as quickly as possible,” the statement said.

The CfDs would reduce financing risks, improve project bankability and help keep electricity costs competitive, while also supporting long-term PPAs through additional hedging mechanisms, according to the industry associations.

The industry also urged the government to establish a mechanism allowing developers to return awarded project sites that have become commercially unviable due to changing market conditions, enabling those sites to be re-tendered quickly and ensuring a steady pipeline of new projects.

Industry groups said maintaining a continuous offshore wind deployment pipeline is essential to provide investment certainty for manufacturers, suppliers and ports, safeguarding industrial value creation and jobs in Germany and across Europe.

The industry also urged the government to establish a mechanism allowing developers to return awarded project sites that have become commercially unviable.

“Where projects can no longer be implemented due to adverse changes in the regulatory framework and increased risks arising from multiple crises, the Federal Government is called upon to examine a return option, as well as an associated mechanism to re-tender the affected sites without delay.”

More information:https://www.renews.biz/offshore-wind/germany-adds-1gw-of-offshore-wind-capacity-in-h1-reaches-10-8gw/