BDEW calls for terawatt hours instead of gigawatts

14.03.2025

Source: E & M powernews

The energy association BDEW wants a fundamental change in the planning of offshore wind farms. The focus should be more on capacity rather than output.

The BDEW wants the planning of new offshore wind farms to focus more on capacity rather than just output. "In order to efficiently achieve the necessary and important expansion targets in the WindSeeG, offshore areas should be planned even more in a yield- and cost-optimized manner," says the association's statement on plans by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH).

BDEW proposes a change from capacity targets in gigawatts to yield targets in terawatt hours. "The focus should be on the energy yield per euro invested," says Kerstin Andreae, Chairwoman of the BDEW Executive Board. However, this change should be made "without reducing the level of ambition of the expansion path taken overall".

BDEW is also calling for wind farms in the North Sea to be planned less densely "in order to minimize shading effects". Studies have shown that a lower power density can increase the full load hours of offshore wind turbines and thus improve cost efficiency without limiting the urgently needed expansion of offshore wind energy.

In addition, the continued operation of offshore wind farms and grid connection systems beyond the current standard service life of 20 to 25 years should be made possible by regulation at an early stage. An extension of the operating period could improve both the economic efficiency and the ecological balance of the plants and at the same time relieve the supply chains in the long term. "Here we can learn from neighboring countries such as the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, where identical plant types are often allowed to remain in operation for significantly longer than in this country."

In general, the BDEW is calling for reliable framework conditions: Planning security is essential for the industry in order to expand the necessary production capacities and port and shipping infrastructure in line with demand. This is crucial for the creation of added value and jobs in Germany and Europe.

The BSH has announced a further optimization of offshore wind expansion in the new 2025 area development plan and made proposals for the areas furthest from land in zones 4 and 5 of the North Sea. A list of questions from the BSH was published for consultation at the end of February.

Author: Stefan Sagmeister