Germany has potential for 82 GW of offshore wind

Germany has the potential to raise its offshore wind energy capacity to 81.6 GW which is above the federal government's target of 70 GW by 2045, a study by research institute Fraunhofer IWES shows.

To exploit all the potential for wind energy in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, Germany needs to devise a strategy for more efficient use of the available space and use new offshore wind power technologies in additional areas in a way that will not raise concerns and affect nature conservation.

Fraunhofer IWES has also analysed the co-use of offshore areas and has discussed its potential and possible obstacles with stakeholders in the nature conservation, fishery and military areas.

The study was conducted on behalf of the German association of offshore wind park operators BWO and the Federal Association of Energy and Water Industries BDEW.

Commenting on the study, BDEW's head Kerstin Andreae warned that more installed capacity does not automatically mean a significant increase in energy production. The development of new areas must be combined with measures aimed at higher efficiency and the modernisation of offshore wind turbines already in operation can significantly increase the output, Andreae added.

Germany now has 7.8 GW of offshore turbines in operation which generated 12 billion kWh of clean power in the first half of 2022.

The estimates in Fraunhofer IWES' study suggest that the realisation of the full potential for offshore wind energy would generate up to 292.1 TWh of clean power per year.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!