(Berlin) - The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has published an “area development plan for the expansion of offshore wind energy”. This determines which specific areas in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) are to be advertised for wind power plants in the North and Baltic Seas.
Excerpt from the “2023 Area Development Plan for the German North Sea and Baltic Sea”. © BMWK
Accordingly, a total output of 36,5 gigawatts can be installed there. In addition, the tender years, commissioning and grid connection are determined, as well as a test field to promote research and development in the territorial sea.
Coalition goal: 30 GW by 2030
By 2030, the existing wind power output must grow from the current eight gigawatts to 30 gigawatts (GW), which is stipulated in the coalition agreement and the amended Wind at sea law was legally enshrined. In order to achieve this goal and accelerate expansion, the BSH has increased performance on the existing areas and identified additional potential areas.
In addition, this has already created the basis for the coalition's desired expansion to 40 gigawatts to be "significantly exceeded" by ten gigawatts in 2035, said Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck on the occasion of the presentation of the area development plan.
Electrolysis capacity up to one gigawatt
“Electricity from offshore wind farms is ideal, among other things, for producing hydrogen via electrolysis,” explained Habeck. In order to test these technologies on an industrial scale on the high seas, the plan specifies an enlarged area in the North Sea, which can be connected with a hydrogen pipeline. The area enables an electrolysis capacity of up to one gigawatt.
The 2023 area development plan is available free of charge as a PDF (133 pages) on the BSH website.
In addition to the offshore agreement from last November, the BSH concept is “another piece of our master plan to achieve the high goals for the expansion of renewable energies”. This will also lay the foundation for a European offshore power grid in which the individual wind farms could be connected to one another. Results from international working groups such as the one would be taken into account North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC). Among other things, cable routes for connecting the offshore platforms and connection capacities to be provided there are specified. According to the Federal Ministry of Economics, the next update process for the area development plan should begin this spring.
Photos
The BSH designates areas in the North and Baltic Seas for wind power output of more than 36 gigawatts to be installed. This enables an electrolysis capacity of up to one gigawatt. © FIG
