Germany has again reduced the capacity tendered in this year’s last round of the onshore wind auction to 2.08 GW due to concerns that the competition would not attract sufficient bids to achieve the initially targeted 3.19 GW.
The decision of the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) to cut the offered capacity for a third time in a row this year has drawn criticism from sector association BWE which described it as a “wrong signal”.
Earlier this month, BWE expressed optimism about the outcome of the auction as there are enough new permits for projects still awaiting awards and called on the Federal Network Agency not to cut the volume.
In a statement issued on Wednesday after the reduction was announced, BWE president Baerbel Heidebroek said that cutting the volume so much without necessity sends the wrong signal. The association pointed out that even if the November tender round were to be fully allocated, a maximum of 6,496 MW could be awarded this year. This compares with the 12.8 GW that was planned to be awarded through tenders in 2023 at the beginning of the year. If the originally offered 3.19 GW had not been cut, the capacity allocated this year could have reached 7,601 MW, BWE noted.
The other terms of the tender remain unchanged. Proposals with a price cap of EUR 0.0735 (USD 0.078) per kWh will be accepted by November 2 since November 1, the official deadline, is a public holiday in Germany.
