Germany eyes greener turbines in 5.5GW offshore wind auction
Germany eyes greener turbines in 5.5GW offshore wind auction | Windpower Monthly
Germany has launched its next offshore wind tender, in which developers will be judged based on the 'greenness' of their turbines and use of trainee workers.
On offer in the tender are three areas in the German North Sea, the German federal network agency (Bundesnetzagentur) announced today (28 February).
The three areas are located around 110km north-west of Borkum, on the maritime border with the Dutch exclusive economic zone and could support a combined 5.5GW of offshore wind capacity.
They were all “centrally examined” in preliminary investigations by Germany’s federal maritime and hydrographic agency, with the information on specific details such as the marine environment, wind conditions and subsoil all due to be made available to interested parties.
Bidders will be rewarded on a set on their willingness to pay in a " negative bidding" auction that has been a central feature of Germany’s recent offshore wind tenders.
Bids will be judged on a mix of price and non-price qualitative criteria, including "the proportion of electricity from renewable energy sources in the production of wind turbines, the proportion of trainees, the use of particularly environmentally friendly start-up methods and the extent of long-term electricity deliveries to third parties", the Bundentzagentur confirmed.
Up to 60 points would be available for the value of the bid, with an additional 35 points available for the qualitative criteria.
Bids will be accepted until 1 August, 2024.
Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: wind
Decades of government support for the development of wind energy has resulted in lower costs and a rapidly growing share of electricity generated by wind turbines. Wind in 2019 accounted for 7.3 percent of electrical generation, surpassing for the first time hydropower at 7.0 percent.