Germany wants to direct part of the proceeds from the sale of land for renewable energy
German industry wants to channel millions of proceeds from auctioning land for offshore wind farms, further into developing production capacities and port facilities in the future in order to achieve energy transition goals.
“We urgently need German infrastructure,” Stefan Thimm, managing director of the German Offshore Wind Energy Association.
He added: “Today, all marine installations in Europe are carried out from Emshaven, in the Netherlands and Esbjerg, in Denmark) … Why not in Cuxhaven and Bremerhaven in Germany?”
As global competition emerges for resources and production capacities in the offshore wind industry, further infrastructure investment in Germany and Europe is rapidly needed.
“Taxpayer money is not necessary to fund this, instead, the association proposes to reform the so-called bidding element in land auctions for offshore wind farms, which was put into the North and Baltic Sea Wind Energy Expansion Act,” he added.
This summer, Germany’s Federal Grid Agency auctioned off four offshore wind farm areas in the North Sea and Baltic Sea to the highest first-time bidders, generating proceeds totaling 12.6 billion Euros ($13.71 billion).
The bidding element stipulates that 90% of the funds collected will go towards expanding the necessary network, and 5% will go towards preserving marine nature and promoting environmentally friendly fishing.
The industry association now proposes to use part of the bidding component of future auctions to expand port infrastructure, marine rescue stations, and to qualify specialists to build and operate wind farms at sea.
