Overview
- In the first half of 2026 Germany added 423 onshore turbines totaling 2,363 MW gross (about 1.9 GW net after retirements) while permitting hit a record near 9.1 GW, according to industry data.
- Roughly 19 GW of permitted projects cannot proceed because they still await auction awards or financing, creating a large pipeline that is slow to convert into operating plants.
- Offshore capacity passed 10 GW after H1 2026 when about 84 turbines (≈1,077 MW) came online, but developers are delaying final investment decisions as auction rounds were paused and the BSH reworks sea-area outlines.
- Companies and trade groups cite steep cost inflation for turbines, steel, cables and logistics—estimates show 30–40% rises over five years—and are pushing legal fixes to restore bankable revenues for long-lived offshore projects.
- Southern states report a persistent imbalance because the EEG reference-yield and auction design favor northern sites, prompting calls for EEG and WindSeeG changes, index-linked Contracts for Difference, and mechanisms to return or re-tender sea areas.