Germany's Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) announced that the latest offshore wind tender received zero bids. The German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) noted this marks the country's first failed offshore wind auction: "For the first time, an offshore wind tender has yielded zero bids. Additionally, interest in the June 2025 tender deadline has drastically declined, indicating significantly increased risks for offshore wind developers in recent years." BDEW Chair Kerstin Andreae emphasized that geopolitical tensions and supply chain bottlenecks have driven up project and financing costs, while electricity market prices and volume risks have become increasingly unpredictable.

Andreae specifically highlighted that current planning places wind turbines too close together, causing significant power generation losses due to shadow flicker—an additional factor dampening corporate interest. She called for regulatory reforms, including adjustments to tender design. As a central pillar of Germany's plan for near-total renewable energy supply, offshore wind development faces bottlenecks. Earlier this year, the industry warned that the 30GW offshore wind installed capacity target for 2031 might be delayed by one year.

Germany's grid-connected offshore wind turbines remained stagnant at 1,639 units in the first half of 2025, with the industry persistently demanding tender system reforms. This failed auction confirms the trend of zero-subsidy bids observed multiple times in recent years, underscoring the urgent need to address systemic risks.
url:https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/no-bids-german-offshore-wind-auction-first-time-industry-association