US EditionGerman Tender for Offshore Wind Without Subsidy Attracts No Bids
GERMANY, AUG 6 – The auction for 10.1 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity drew no bids due to rising costs and market risks, prompting calls for urgent auction system reforms.
- Germany's latest offshore wind auction on August 7, 2025, failed as no bids were submitted for two North Sea sites totaling 2.5 GW capacity.
- This failure stems from rising project costs, supply chain bottlenecks, and an auction design that requires developers to assume high risks without subsidies.
- Industry groups like BWO and WindEurope urge fundamental reforms, including introducing Contracts for Difference and long-term power purchase agreements.
- BWO’s Stefan Thimm said Contracts for Difference reduce electricity generation costs by up to 30 percent, which supports competitive pricing and investor confidence.
- The auction failure signals a market unattractive to investors, risking delays to Germany's 30 GW offshore wind target around 2031 and pressures urgent regulatory changes.
24 Articles
24 Articles
A premiere of the bad kind: For the first time, there are no buyers in a tender for new wind turbines in the North Sea. Uncertain economic prospects provide for restraint in the industry – but there is also a home-made problem.
German Tender for Offshore Wind Without Subsidy Attracts No Bids
The German agency that oversees the country’s offshore wind energy development confirmed that there were no bids in the most recent auction. It was Germany’s second auction of the year, but unlike the first, which TotalEngeries won the site, this one failed to receive interest from investors. Germany was offering two North Sea sites, which combined would have a capacity of 2.5 GW. The country currently has 9.2 GW of offshore wind capacity operat…
For the first time no buyers have found themselves at sea for German wind power areas.
In the North Sea, new wind farms are to be built on two surfaces. There, 2500 megawatts of electricity could be generated. But no one is applying for the contract. Associations criticize the tender.
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