Offshore Wind Energy

The North Sea “wind harvest” of the first half of 2018 exceeds the first half of 2017 by more than five percent

Published

8 years ago

19 September 2018

In the first half of 2018, the wind energy transferred by transmission system operator TenneT from the North Sea to the shore rose to 8.17 terawatt hours (TWh). This corresponds to an increase of 5.15 percent compared to the first half of 2017 (7.77 TWh). “We see significant potential for optimising the use of existing transmission capacities,” said TenneT’s managing director Lex Hartman. “Approximately 660 megawatts of grid connection capacity will run idle in the foreseeable future in the North Sea. The legislator could allocate these free resources to offshore wind farms via an additional tender to offshore wind farms. With an eye on the new goal of the Federal Government, according to which the share of renewable energies should reach 65 percent by the year 2030, we should use such potential to its fullest extent,” says Hartman.

In addition, TenneT is calling for western German North Sea wind farms to be linked to the Dutch electricity grid in the future. One such cost-effective solution could be a connection to Eemshaven. Because this grid connection point is located directly on the coast, it would be possible to save 100 kilometres of underground cables in Germany and thus around 200 million euros, while at the same time bypassing bottlenecks in the German electricity grid on land.

The necessary legal certainty could be achieved through a German-Dutch Treaty, which would stipulate that German wind farms will continue to be subject to German and offshore liability regulations.

In the Netherlands, TenneT is already investigating to connect to the UK by linking the future “Ijmuiden Ver” and “East Anglia” wind farms with a short cable, creating an interconnector between the two countries.

In the German North Sea, TenneT currently has ten offshore grid connection systems with a total capacity of 5,332 megawatts (MW) for transmitting wind energy from sea to land. As such, TenneT has now achieved more than 82% of the federal government’s expansion target of achieving 6,500 megawatts of offshore wind capacities by 2020. By the end of 2023, TenneT will successively complete three additional grid connection systems, which will provide 8,032 MW of transmission capacity in the North Sea.

By 2027, three more connections will be prepared by TenneT or will be pending further commissioning according to the preliminary design of the land development plan of the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH). This will increase the transmission capacity in the German North Sea to almost 11,000 MW.

The current maximum infeed performance of offshore wind farms in the North Sea reached 4,431 MW on 31 March 2018. Compared to the end of 2017, the capacity expansion of the offshore wind farms in the North Sea remained unchanged at 4,716 MW on the reporting date of 30 June 2018.

The North Sea wind harvest amounted to 8.17 terawatt hours in the first half of 2018 and, with 15.1 percent, again confirmed its strong share of total wind energy generation in Germany, which reached about 54 terawatt hours in the first half of the year.

The wind turbines in the Baltic Sea (not within the TenneT grid area) generated 0.87 terawatt hours) in the first half of 2018, which means Germany’s total offshore yield amounted to 9.04 terawatt hours). With an addition 44.95 terawatt hours) of generated onshore wind energy, the total yield is thus 53.99 terawatt hours).

Offshore Wind Energy

Commission approves €5 billion Danish offshore wind support scheme

Published

3 months ago

25 March 2026

Mesut Kul

What’s in this news?
The European Commission has approved a €5 billion Danish State aid scheme to support offshore wind development. Covering the Hesselø and North Sea I Mid projects, the scheme is expected to play a key role in achieving the EU’s 2030 renewable energy targets and accelerating the transition to a net-zero economy.

The European Commission has approved a €5 billion (DKK 37.6 billion) Danish State aid scheme aimed at supporting offshore wind energy deployment.

The measure aligns with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal and is designed to contribute to the EU’s 2030 renewable energy targets.

Two offshore wind projects to be supported

The scheme will support the development of two major offshore wind farms:

Hesselø Offshore Wind Farm
- Minimum capacity: 0.8 GW
- Expected annual generation: ~3.2 TWh
North Sea I Mid Offshore Wind Farm
- Minimum capacity: 1 GW
- Expected annual generation: ~4.6 TWh

Combined, these projects are expected to generate electricity equivalent to approximately 25% of Denmark’s annual electricity production.

Two-way CfD mechanism

The support will be granted through a two-way Contract for Difference (CfD) mechanism:

Producers receive payments when market prices fall below the strike price
Producers pay back when market prices exceed the strike price

This design ensures both investor certainty and proper market functioning.

20-year support period

The scheme will run for 20 years and will be allocated via a competitive bidding process. Support will be based on potential generation capacity rather than actual production.

Supporting EU energy transition

The Commission concluded that the scheme is:

Necessary and proportionate
Supportive of the net-zero transition
Effective in reducing fossil fuel dependency

and compliant with EU State aid rules.

Offshore Wind Energy

Is Türkiye Ready for Offshore Wind?

Published

3 months ago

5 March 2026

Mesut Kul

Is Türkiye Ready for Offshore Wind? Industry Perspectives Point to Industrial Potential

Offshore wind energy is becoming one of the fastest-growing segments of the global energy transition. As the sector expands across Europe, discussions around Türkiye’s offshore wind potential are also gaining momentum.

Industry representatives speaking during KEY – The Energy Transition Expo 2026 highlighted both the opportunities and the structural challenges facing offshore wind development in Türkiye.

According to DÜRED Chairman Murat Durak, Türkiye already has a significant industrial base that could support offshore wind projects.

A Strong Industrial Ecosystem

Durak pointed out that Turkish shipyards and heavy industry facilities are already capable of manufacturing various offshore structures and components.

Some shipyards are already involved in manufacturing for European offshore projects, indicating that Türkiye could potentially play a role within the broader offshore wind supply chain.

This industrial capacity suggests that Türkiye could position itself not only as a project developer but also as a manufacturing and supply hub for offshore wind equipment.

Port Infrastructure Remains a Critical Requirement

Despite this industrial capacity, Durak noted that one of the key missing elements is dedicated offshore wind port infrastructure.

Offshore wind projects require large-scale logistics operations for transporting turbine components, installing foundations, and maintaining offshore structures.

Developing suitable port infrastructure is therefore considered an important step for enabling large-scale offshore wind projects in Türkiye.

Supply Chain Opportunities

DÜRED Board Member Bilgihan Yaşacan emphasized the importance of the offshore wind supply chain.

According to Yaşacan, offshore wind development creates opportunities across a wide range of sectors, including:

marine construction
engineering services
offshore platforms
subsea cable installation
heavy logistics and equipment manufacturing

He stressed that supporting the development of companies capable of operating in offshore environments will be essential for building a sustainable offshore wind ecosystem.

Regional Opportunities

Industry representatives also highlighted that offshore wind opportunities should not be viewed solely within Türkiye’s domestic market.

Potential offshore wind developments in the Mediterranean region and the Middle East could create additional opportunities for Turkish shipyards, engineering firms, and industrial suppliers.

The Mediterranean Could Become a New Offshore Market

While Northern European countries have led offshore wind development for many years, the Mediterranean region is still considered an emerging market.

According to sector representatives, this situation could create new opportunities for countries with strong industrial capabilities such as Türkiye.

If offshore wind projects begin to expand in the Mediterranean basin, Türkiye’s industrial sector could play an important role in supporting regional offshore wind development.

Offshore Wind Energy

UK Awards 8.4 GW in Europe’s Largest Offshore Wind Auction to Date

Published

4 months ago

19 February 2026

Mesut Kul

On 14 January 2026, the United Kingdom awarded a total of 8.4 GW of offshore wind capacity under Allocation Round 7 (AR7), marking the largest offshore wind auction ever held in Europe.

The awarded capacity includes 8.2 GW of bottom-fixed offshore wind and nearly 200 MW of floating wind projects. The new capacity is expected to generate enough electricity to power approximately 10 million homes.

Record competition drives competitive pricing

AR7 was one of the most competitive offshore auctions ever held in Europe. A record 19 projects, representing a combined potential capacity of 24 GW, were eligible to bid.

The strong competition resulted in 2024 strike prices of:

£91.20/MWh in England and Wales
£89.49/MWh in Scotland

These levels are approximately 40% lower than the cost of building and operating new gas plants in the UK (£147/MWh) and nearly 30% lower than new nuclear plants (£124/MWh).

The 8.4 GW of new offshore wind capacity is estimated to save UK billpayers nearly £1.7 billion per year compared to gas generation.

CfD framework proves effective

The UK’s two-sided Contracts for Difference (CfD) mechanism once again demonstrated its ability to de-risk projects and provide long-term revenue visibility.

With a total budget of £1.79 billion — exceeding the initial £1.1 billion allocation — the UK Government secured additional capacity to enhance energy security and economic resilience.

Following the failed AR5 round in 2023 and limited new capacity under AR6, AR7 represents a significant turning point for offshore wind deployment in the UK.

AR7 winning projects

AR7 awarded support to six bottom-fixed offshore wind projects and two floating wind projects:

Project	CfD Capacity (MW)	Owner(s)	Strike Price (2024)	Delivery (Phase 1)
Awel y Mor	775	RWE (60%), Stadtwerke München (30%), Siemens Financial Services (10%)	£91.2/MWh	2030/31
Dogger Bank South	3000	RWE (51%), Masdar (49%)	£91.2/MWh	2030/31
Norfolk Vanguard East	1545	RWE	£91.2/MWh	2029/30
Norfolk Vanguard West	1545	RWE	£91.2/MWh	2028/29
Berwick Bank	1380	SSE Renewables	£89.49/MWh	2030/31
Pentland (floating)	92.5	Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (80%), Eurus Energy (10%), Hexicon (10%)	£216.49/MWh	2029/30
Erebus (floating)	100	TotalEnergies (80%), Simply Blue Energy (20%)	£216.49/MWh	2029/30

The 192 MW awarded to floating wind projects marks another step toward commercial-scale floating wind deployment. Industry stakeholders emphasise the need for tailored support schemes, clear auction timelines for floating wind, and infrastructure investment in ports to sustain momentum.