Overview
- On Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Economics Minister Katherina Reiche acknowledged "substantial defects" in the 2023–24 offshore auctions and proposed a conditioned, orderly return-and-reauction mechanism while holding companies financially responsible.
- The offshore build-out has effectively stalled, with no new German offshore projects initiated for about two years and many awarded sea areas left unused.
- Industry and officials point to rising construction and financing costs, strained supply chains, longer distances to shore that raise grid connection and converter costs, and weak revenue prospects as the main reasons projects became commercially unviable.
- A cross-regional letter from eight state premiers pressed for a single, legally secure one-time return option and rapid re-auctioning to avoid blocked sites and stranded grid capacity, while the federal draft law currently does not permit unilateral returns.
- Industry groups warn the pause risks large economic harm—the BWO estimates about 21,000 jobs could be lost and a €550 billion revenue shortfall possible by 2045—putting manufacturing supply chains and plans to supply southern industry with cheaper renewables at stake.