AquaVentus, a consortium of companies, organizations, and research institutes, has fundamentally welcomed the draft bill from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) for the amendment of the Wind Energy at Sea Act (WindSeeG). The draft provides for the first time combined connection concepts for the flexible generation of electricity and hydrogen at sea, the association announced on August 17, 2026, in Berlin. At the same time, AquaVentus calls for improvements in the parliamentary process.
According to the initiative's assessment, the draft addresses key investment barriers. These include two-sided difference contracts, a reliable tender path, and the extension of the operating period. With the removal of the previous connection ban for other energy generation areas and the explicit mention of electrolysers, a reliable legal basis for grid-serving offshore electrolysis is created for the first time.
Billions in Savings Through Pipeline Transport
“We expressly welcome the fact that the benefits of combined connection concepts are finally recognized and the coalition agreement is being implemented,” says Robert Seehawer, Managing Director of AquaVentus. “In view of rising grid costs, this is good news. With combined connection concepts, double-digit billions can be saved.”
The grid development plan 2037/2045 shows, according to AquaVentus, investment costs for offshore grid connection systems, of which 56 to 59 billion euros could be avoided according to the initiative's calculations. The prerequisite is that energy is brought ashore in the form of hydrogen via pipeline instead of additional power lines.
Criticism of Restriction to Individual Areas
From the initiative's point of view, it is incomprehensible why sector coupling should initially only be permitted in selected areas. The economic benefit of producing electricity or hydrogen depending on market signals has been proven in numerous studies. A legal opening creates an option, not an obligation.
“That would be like putting out a fire on one side of the street first to see if it goes out on the other side by itself,” says Seehawer. “This amendment already makes the next amendment necessary and threatens to be outdated before it is even passed.”
Proposal: Credit Towards 70-GW Expansion Target
AquaVentus proposes that wind energy capacity within other energy generation areas be explicitly credited towards the 70-GW expansion target for offshore wind. According to the initiative, this is also the most cost-efficient way to achieve the 70-GW target. The capacity on the SEN-1 area could use the existing converter platform NOR-10-1 via a 66-kV connection. An additional dedicated connection system, which according to the explanatory memorandum to the law would cost around 5 to 10 billion euros, would then not be needed.
Appeal to the BSH for Area Planning
The initiative also addresses its appeal to the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH). A study by the consulting firm Ramboll commissioned by AquaVentus identifies the areas N-14, N-16, and N-19 as the areas with the highest systemic and economic added value for large-scale offshore hydrogen production. This spatial basis should be outlined in the ongoing update of the area development plan for zones 4 and 5, while the BMWi prepares the legal opening.
BEE Also Calls for Improvements
The German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE) also spoke up at the end of the association hearing. Mismanagement in the tender design had led to the tender round for offshore wind energy remaining without bids last August, and no tenders can take place this year.
“Despite the current delays, it is not too late to achieve the 70 GW target by 2045,” says BEE President Ursula Heinen-Esser. “However, this urgently requires an internationally competitive and reliable investment framework.” Heinen-Esser is critical of the planned reduction of the minimum volumes in the tenders. Offshore wind energy is an important building block for the hydrogen ramp-up.
The current H2international also reports on the need to think about and plan the expansion of marine wind energy and offshore hydrogen production in Germany and across the EU together.
Background AquaVentus
According to its own statements, the AquaVentus initiative aims to produce one million tons of hydrogen per year from wind energy in the North Sea and transport it ashore via pipeline. The consortium of companies, organizations, and research institutes aims to create the framework conditions for the installation of 10 gigawatts of production capacity for hydrogen from offshore wind energy in the North Sea across Europe.
