Germany's Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has unveiled a draft site development plan and accompanying environmental reports aimed at ramping up offshore wind energy capacity in the Baltic and North Seas to 60 GW by 2037.
BSH disclosed on Friday that the ongoing revision of the development plan seeks to pinpoint acceleration areas that will benefit from streamlined procedures under the EU Renewable Energy Directive.
“We are charting an accelerated expansion trajectory up to 2035, surpassing the legal target by 10 GW. By 2037, we aim to reach 60 GW,” affirmed BSH President Helge Heegewaldt.
The draft plan delineates the areas crucial for Germany to achieve a minimum of 70 GW of offshore wind energy by 2045, marking the first time such areas have been outlined. A key aspect involves the utilization of zones near shipping route SN10, traversing the German exclusive economic zone, for offshore wind energy generation.
“In collaboration with other pertinent federal administration bodies and our Danish and Dutch counterparts, we have strived to secure additional areas for national offshore expansion objectives while safeguarding international shipping safety and convenience. Through this plan, we can designate wind energy areas exceeding 10 GW by reshaping shipping routes,” Heegewaldt elaborated.
The proposed update also outlines the tendering and commissioning schedule for offshore wind energy areas up to the year 2037.
Authorities have until July 8, 2024, to provide feedback on the draft, while the public can submit comments until August 8, 2024. The process of amending and finalizing the site development plan is slated for completion by the end of 2024.
