German offshore wind association BWO has welcomed the outcomes of the North Sea Summit in Hamburg, saying commitments by governments, industry and grid operators provide much-needed stability, clearer investment signals and a stronger European framework for offshore wind expansion.
The group said the summit delivered a new Offshore Wind Investment Pact under which North Sea countries plan to tender 15 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity each year between 2031 and 2040 under an optimised, lower-risk auction framework. At least 10 GW annually would be supported by indexed, two-sided Contracts for Difference (CfDs), which BWO said would improve market predictability and secure long-term investment conditions.
BWO said dependable tender volumes and stable auction design are critical to unlocking investment across projects, supply chains, ports, vessels and workforce development.
“The North Sea Summit in Hamburg marks a milestone for offshore wind energy in Europe,” said Hans Sohn, BWO’s head of policy and communications.
“The European states are moving closer together in the North Sea and deepening their cooperation – that is a very good signal. It is clear that offshore wind, as a central pillar of the energy supply, supports a more resilient Europe. The political commitments to clear expansion pathways and reliable auctions create the planning certainty that is urgently needed and form the basis for investment, falling costs and a strong European offshore wind industry,” Sohn added.
BWO also signed the Offshore Wind Industry Declaration alongside WindEurope and companies across the value chain, endorsing Europe’s long-term target of 300 GW of offshore wind. The association said the sector has committed to cutting the levelised cost of electricity from offshore wind by 30% in real terms by 2040 compared with 2025 investment decision levels, alongside major investment in manufacturing capacity, infrastructure and training.
The group said Germany’s move towards two-sided CfDs would help reduce financing costs and deliver cheaper power. “We are committed to ensuring that no further auction is held under the previous rules,” Sohn said, adding that a federal auction planned for June 2026 should be postponed and redesigned after sites offered in August 2025 attracted no bids. He pointed to the UK’s recent CfD-based auction as a positive example.
BWO said protection of critical energy infrastructure was a central theme at the summit, noting that offshore wind farms form a key part of that infrastructure. It argued maritime security is essential for stable and economically viable operations and called for early, structured dialogue between operators, authorities and security bodies to embed a security-by-design approach.
“The BWO is recognised by security authorities as a central point of contact – and rightly so,” said BWO chair Irina Lucke.
“Operators of offshore wind farms bear responsibility for critical infrastructure over project lifetimes of 25 years and more and share the goal of a secure maritime environment. We are ready to contribute our existing capabilities. However, dialogue is essential to achieve clear objectives, reliable responsibilities and a technically and economically sustainable implementation,” Lucke said.
BWO also cited a new Fraunhofer IWES study commissioned with German utility association BDEW, which found that more cross-border offshore planning could deliver significant benefits. According to the group, a transnational approach to developing 70 GW of offshore wind in Germany could reduce wake losses, lift energy yields by up to 13% and cut levelised costs by as much as 11%.
The association said the findings underline that deeper European cooperation is both economically advantageous and necessary for energy security.
