Germany advances offshore wind capacity and gas plant auctions to strengthen energy security

Germany’s offshore wind fleet surpassed 10 GW in the first half of 2026, with 84 new turbines adding 1.1 GW and a total of 1,764 turbines operating in the North Sea and Baltic Sea. The federal target of 30 GW of offshore wind has been pushed back to 2032, and industry groups such as the Federal Association of Offshore Wind Energy (BWO) and the VDMA are urging a reform of the current WindSeeG auction system. They propose indexed, two‑sided contracts‑for‑difference (CfDs) to reduce revenue risk and attract investment.

In parallel, the German government, via the Bundesnetzagentur, announced its first auction to support the construction of new gas‑fired power plants that can operate as flexible, hydrogen‑ready backup for renewable generation. The inaugural round offers capacity payments for up to 4.5 GW of installed power over 15 years, with a submission deadline of 8 September 2026. This scheme is part of a broader plan to secure up to 9 GW of flexible capacity in 2026 and to help Germany meet its climate‑neutrality target by 2045.