energy
North Sea winds find no buyer
According to associations, it is a novelty. Minister of Economic Affairs reacts.
Two wind power areas in the North Sea have not been auctioned at the latest auction of the Federal Network Agency. According to associations, an auction of winds at sea in Germany failed for the first time.
No commandments had been made by the beginning of August, the Federal Network Agency in Bonn said. The areas are to be advertised again in June 2026. This is regulated by law. There are no further details from the announcement.
Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche (CDU) announced that it would have to be checked whether the areas were at all suitable to be identified. “We want to take a critical look at that.” In addition, conditions of tender would have to be adjusted if necessary.
The areas N-10.1 and N-10.2. They are quite central in Germany’s exclusive economic zone.
Associations: Auction failed for the first time
“The fact that not a single company participated in this auction is a failure with an announcement,” said managing director Stefan Thimm of the Federal Association of Wind Energy Offshore (BWO). The industry has been warning for years to build up too many risks.
The Federal Association of Energy and Water Management (BDEW) also spoke of the fact that a bid had failed for the first time. The chairwoman of the BDEW main management, Kerstin Andreae, said that developers of wind farms were faced with increasing risks. There are increased costs that the electricity market is difficult to predict and the planned high development density in the sea reduces the possible electricity generation.
dpa
Source: Stern
