Wednesday, 12th August 2026

Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) of Germany

Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy has initiated consultation on a draft amendment to the Offshore Wind Energy Act (WindSeeG) aimed at optimizing and safeguarding the expansion of offshore wind energy. The draft maintains the legally mandated long-term target of 70 GW by 2045 but proposes a slower expansion pace to avoid costly overcapacity and preserve future flexibility. It prioritizes cost-efficiency, investment security and market-oriented mechanisms while retaining safeguards and subsidies where needed. The proposed framework also seeks to reduce system costs through better coordination of electricity generation and grid connections, strengthen industrial resilience in line with the EU Net Zero Industry Act, and enable future offshore wind projects to connect to both electricity and hydrogen infrastructure. It also establishes a legal basis for coordinated offshore rescue infrastructure to strengthen occupational health and safety.