Germany’s proposed reform of the Offshore Wind Energy Act (WindSeeG) will have significant implications for the future development of the country’s offshore wind sector. Against a backdrop of challenging macroeconomic and supply chain conditions, a key focus of the reform is to establish a regulatory framework that supports the financial viability of offshore wind investments while enabling the timely delivery of projects. Central to the ongoing discussions are potential changes to the auction framework and the introduction of two-sided Contracts for Difference (CfDs). Further considerations include the indexation of bid prices, the setting of appropriate maximum bid prices, the integration of non-price criteria, and the coordination of offshore wind development and grid connections. In addition, a mechanism allowing developers to return projects awarded since 2023 under an auction regime characterized by zero subsidies and negative bids is being considered to support the continued expansion of offshore wind capacity.

On 3 November, Managing Director Dominik Hübler and Senior Consultant/Principal Leonie Janisch will speak at a session titled “Analysis of the WindSeeG Reform from an Economic Perspective” at the 2nd Berlin Forum on Offshore Energy Law. They will discuss the key characteristics of the emerging regulatory framework and its expected attractiveness to investors and areas in which coordination between offshore wind regulation and transmission network regulation is required.