The German government is considering capping the expansion of offshore wind power capacity between 2021 and 2025, limiting offshore wind installations to 3.1 GW to keep step with the construction of new high-voltage power lines.
As of 2021, up to 500 MW new offshore wind capacity will be allowed to be built exclusively in the Baltic Sea, as power lines with the mainland are already available. Half of the 500 MW of new offshore wind foreseen for 2022 may be built in the Baltic Sea. Geographical restrictions will be removed for the annual 700 MW expected between 2023 and 2025. New annual capacity will be capped at 840 MW as of 2026, to reach the target of 15 GW of offshore wind capacity in 2030. New offshore projects will be allowed through tenders: 1.7 GW will be auctioned in 2017, but only 1.4 GW in 2018. Energy-intensive companies will have to pay 20% of the EEG surcharge (they were exempted until 2014).
The new law, which has still to be examined and approved by the European Commission, aims at reducing the financial cost of the Energiewende policy (shift toward renewable energy sources and away from nuclear and fossil fuels). It should come into force at the start of 2017.
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