Germany

The German Government agreed on a target of a share of 25% to 30% renewables in gross electricity consumption by 2020. With more than 20GW installed in 2006, Germany has the highest installed capacity of onshore wind of any country in the world. An adequate support scheme for onshore wind has led to this high share of onshore wind power. The latest report on the German renewable energy law (EEG) identified that the benefits outrange the costs three times. The Ministry of Environment and the wind industry expect that by 2020 at least 10GW offshore wind will be installed in Germany.

To stimulate the deployment of offshore wind in Germany, the Government suggested in December 2007 to increase the offshore wind feed in tariff to 12 Cent/kWh. An additional “Sprinter premium” of 2 Cent/kwh will be paid until the end of 2013. This support will be provided over a at least 12 year period. That would mean for the Butendiek Offshore Wind Farm: 14Cent/kwh for 12.5 years (excluding the grid infrastructure). This new feed in tariff will become effective after approval by the German Bundestag at the latest in January 2009.

Under the “InfrastrukturPlanungsBeschleunigungsGesetz” (Infrastructure Planning Acceleration Act) the transmission operator has to build the offshore grid for projects in construction by 2011 and the costs will be socialised. The Government decided to prolong this regulation until the end of 2013.