Projects: German projects

Private initiatives

Just as it did for onshore wind, the German government is counting on the initiative of private businesses to utilise offshore wind energy within the framework of the Renewable Energies Act. This approach instigated the very rapid expansion of wind power capacity on land during the past decade.

Jurisdiction

Businesses intending to develop an offshore wind project must apply to the proper authority. Coastal states are responsible for project licensing within the 12-mile territorial limit. The federal government is responsible for licensing in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) (Link Nordseekarte BSH), with executive competence in the hands of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany (Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie - BSH) located in Hamburg. Decisions are based on regulations in the Marine Facilities Ordinance (SeeAnlV). During the licensing process, the BSH holds conferences on applications and organises hearings with participants.

Legal situation

The large number of projects applied for within the exclusive economic zone, some of which are very far from the coast (more than 100 kilometres), is certainly in part a consequence of the legal situation in this zone. According to the Marine Facilities Ordinance, applying to utilise a certain marine area automatically blocks that area for other applicants. Therefore it can be assumed that some wind farm projects far from the coast have been applied for only to "reserve" that area of the sea. It is questionable whether these projects can be realised in the foreseeable future. The long-term development of these areas, beyond 2010, will greatly depend on the economic viability and competitiveness of offshore wind power reached by that time.

An amendment to the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), passed on 15 November 2001 in the German Bundestag provides for a change to the Marine Facilities Ordinance. Accordingly, multiple applications can be processed in parallel until one application has achieved licensing status. The amendment's coming into effect will effectively prevent the blocking of areas by applicants.

Grid network contract

To connect an offshore wind farm to the grid network on land, farm operators will have to make a contract with the relevant grid operators. According to the Renewable Energies Act, grid operators are obliged to give priority to the purchase of wind power. The costs of connecting to the grid are shared by the wind farm and the grid operator.