Offshore wind needs momentum – and a market design that makes investments viable again.

At the Autumn Reception 2025 of the Bundesverband Windenergie Offshore e.V. (BWO) in Berlin, we were represented by Barbara Mai. Together with representatives from politics, industry and associations, key future questions for offshore wind were discussed.

If offshore wind is to become a true engine of the energy transition, risks, system costs and planning processes must be rethought.

Price and volume uncertainties are inherent to the market – but they must not stall investment. Smart auction designs can create long-term planning certainty. Offshore wind must not be viewed in isolation: only through integrated planning and assessment of offshore grid connections (ONAS) and wind farms can economic efficiency, bankable returns and affordable energy prices be ensured. Competitive bids and a strategically sequenced project pipeline are crucial to retaining jobs and expertise in Germany. And offshore wind is by now a European joint endeavor – hybrid interconnectors and cross-border planning are key to security of supply and grid efficiency.

As part of the AquaConsult consortium, cruh21 strengthens the bridge between offshore wind and hydrogen – where the energy transition becomes truly cross-sectoral.

A sincere thank-you to the BWO for the invitation and to all participants for the insightful exchange.