Germany is on track to miss its target of installing 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity by 2030, industry associations said, citing delays in grid connections and a lack of bids in last year’s auction round.
“Delays in grid connections and the lack of bids in the August 2025 tender round mean that the 30GW expansion target will not be met,” said a joint statement from the German Wind Energy Association, the Federal Association of Offshore Wind Energy, Foundation OFFSHORE Wind Energy, VDMA Power Systems, WAB and Wind Energy Network.
The groups warned that current challenges are putting investments in already-awarded projects at risk and undermining future developments, threatening the cost-efficient expansion of offshore wind.
“The 30GW target will not be achieved before 2032 at the earliest,” they added.
Germany had installed 9.74 GW of offshore wind capacity by the end of 2025, according to data from Deutsche WindGuard. During 2025, 41 new turbines with a combined capacity of 518 megawatts (MW) were connected to the grid in the North and Baltic seas, while 65 foundations were installed.
A further 19 turbines, representing 278 MW, were erected but had not yet begun supplying electricity by year-end.
Based on current forecasts, around 20 GW of offshore wind capacity is expected to be connected to the grid by 2030, the associations said.
“The federal government is now called upon to fundamentally and rapidly reform the future tendering system in close cooperation with the industry,” the groups said.
“Instead of maximising state revenues, the focus must be placed on project implementation to ensure a secure and cost-efficient energy supply. A genuine restart is now needed.”
The government plans to return sites that were not awarded in the August 2025 tender to the market in June this year. However, the associations warned that this round could also fail unless changes are agreed quickly and implemented ahead of the 2026 tenders.
“If necessary, deadlines must be slightly adjusted so that awards can be converted into contracts and projects,” they said.
The industry also called for stronger European coordination, pointing to commitments made at the recent North Sea Summit.
“The European cooperation promoted by the North Sea Summit to support market ramp-up and investment security sends a strong signal to the industry,” the associations said. It is now crucial to implement these plans and establish a stable and reliable framework for offshore wind development.
