RWE emerged as the primary winner in Germany's latest offshore wind auction, securing two of the three available sites. The Essen-based company won the rights to develop 4 GW of the 5.5 GW of capacity offered, with the successful bids focused on the N-9.1 and N-9.2 zones in the North Sea, located 115 kilometers off Borkum.
RWE agreed to pay a total of €250 million for the sites and is considering a partnership with TotalEnergies to develop the projects. Investment decisions are expected by 2027 and 2028, with offshore construction projected to begin in 2029 and 2030, pending necessary permits. Full commissioning of the wind farms is anticipated for 2031 and 2032.
Sven Utermöhlen, RWE's offshore wind chief, emphasized the strategic importance of offshore wind for Germany's energy transition and the company's growth strategy. “With today's success, we are adding two more large-scale wind farms to our already strong German offshore wind portfolio, and we look forward to realising the new projects – possibly with TotalEnergies. Our teams are already in the starting blocks,” Utermöhlen said.
The third site, N-9.3, with a capacity of 1.5 GW, was awarded to Waterekke Energy GmbH, a company linked to Luxcara. A total of five bids were submitted for the three sites.
Germany's Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) stated that the total proceeds from the tender will not be disclosed to prevent the calculation of individual bid values. The agency confirmed that proceeds from the auction will primarily be used to reduce electricity costs, with a portion allocated to marine nature conservation and the promotion of sustainable fishing practices.
Funds designated for marine protection must be paid into the federal budget within a year. The component intended for electricity cost reduction will be distributed in constant annual installments over 20 years, beginning with the wind farms' completion dates.
