"Offshore Wind has become European" Ínterview with Stefan Thimm on Hamburg Offshore Wind 2026

REH: How would you summarise the North Sea Summit? Has the right course been set to make the North Sea the energy centre of Europe? Would you say Europe has moved any closer together?

Stefan Thimm: “The North Sea Summit was a clear signal: offshore wind has become European. This is good and necessary. It is essential that we work closely together, if we are to make the North Sea Europe’s efficient energy centre. Not only governments among themselves, but also together with the offshore wind industry. It is good that the summit in Hamburg has recognised the value of planning security. Tendering 15 gigawatts of offshore wind in Europe for ten years is an important signal to the value chain. This will significantly reduce costs. Progress in networks and interconnectors is also important. I am also pleased about the basic agreement between Denmark and Germany to cooperate in the field of radial offshore wind connections. Together with the BDEW, we have been able to show in a study that we can achieve up to 13 percent higher electricity yields with up to 11 percent lower system costs. The plan: offshore wind farms will be built in the Danish and Swedish EEZ and directly connected to the German grid. Including grid connection. This demonstrates the advantages of cooperation compared to purely national expansion.”

REH: How do you assess the suspension of the offshore tender by the Federal Government?

Stefan Thimm: “The suspension of the auction planned for June 2026 was logical. We have pushed for this postponement several times. It makes no sense to offer these areas, which had already failed in August 2025, again without optimising land planning and thus wind yield and without implementing a new auction structure. An auction under conditions that obviously no longer work would only have created further uncertainty. What counts now is that the tender structure will be adapted before the end of this year. We need an auction structure that distributes risks fairly.”

REH: So, an auction structure based on the British/Danish model?

Stefan Thimm: “Exactly, we should learn from last year’s failure and look around at what already works internationally. Great Britain shows with bilateral contracts for difference how investment security can be established. Billions of euros invested in offshore wind need reliable framework conditions. These should also be clarified quickly in Germany, where many details are crucial. For example, sensible indexation so that investments don’t fail due to unforeseen cost increases in the supply chain.”

REH: Would you classify the realisation of energy islands such as Bornholm Island as key milestones? If so, why?

Stefan Thimm: “Yes, definitely. Bornholm represents the next step in the development of the offshore wind industry – away from national project logic and towards a European energy system architecture. An energy island bundles generation, grid connection and interconnectors. This increases efficiency, strengthens security of supply and can reduce costs in the long term. Now, it is essential that costs, risks and revenues are distributed fairly between the participating states. It is precisely in this area that the Hamburg Summit has made important progress. If this succeeds, Bornholm will become a blueprint project for the North Sea.”

Thank you very much!