On May 20, 2026, the German Offshore Wind Energy Association (BWO) is calling for a legally regulated mechanism for the voluntary return and rapid retendering of offshore wind energy sites. The aim is to clarify potential non-implementation cases early on in order to avoid years of blocked sites and grid connection capacities. This should limit damage to the expansion path, supply chains, and Germany’s industrial base. Potential delays affect a project and procurement volume of up to €50 billion.
The BWO proposes a mechanism for the voluntary and accelerated return of land for awarded projects. This would allow blocked areas to be quickly re-tendered and awarded, thus ensuring the continuation of development.
“The German government has failed to include a buyback option for awarded projects in the offshore wind auction rules. Furthermore, the existing auction design has imposed significant risks on companies, risks they can barely influence – particularly in cases of severe grid connection delays. There is a risk that areas for up to 16 gigawatts of installed capacity will be blocked. A standstill in project development threatens the supply chain. Moreover, there will be a shortage of climate-friendly electricity for the economy and society,” explains Stefan Thimm, Managing Director of the German Offshore Wind Energy Association (BWO). “Therefore, we need a mechanism that ensures an orderly, reliable, and swift handling of potential projects that cannot be realized. Billion-euro projects with no prospect of being built pose a real threat to the supply chain. We expect the German government to implement this proposal from the offshore wind industry promptly,” Thimm adds.
The BWO proposal concerns projects from 2023 to 2025 that have not yet received a final investment decision. The core of the mechanism is that companies should be able to declare a voluntary return of the land within four weeks of the regulation coming into effect. The land should then be quickly reallocated under the new auction rules from 2027 onwards, possibly via a special tender.
The industry proposal stipulates that companies returning land may not bid again on the same sites and must submit existing preliminary investigation results and project data to the authorities. Furthermore, only one award per bidder per new tender round should be possible. Payments for the environmental and fisheries components will not be refunded in the case of voluntary return. Security deposits, however, are to be fully repaid so that companies contribute to damage mitigation at an early stage.