The German Federal Cabinet has decided to postpone offshore wind seabed auctions scheduled for 2026. Under the decision, the offshore wind areas N-10.1 and N-10.2 in the North Sea will not be re-auctioned in 2026 after receiving no bids in August 2025. Instead, the auctions are expected to take place in 2027, with the exact timing to be defined in the area development plan by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency.
The sites N-10.1 and N-10.2 have a combined capacity of 2.5 GW and cover around 182 square kilometres, with commissioning planned from 2030 and 2031.
The decision follows concerns about the existing auction framework and broader uncertainty around project risks and infrastructure timelines. The German Offshore Wind Energy Association (BWO) calls for greater planning certainty, adjustments to the auction design and early transparency on delays in key infrastructure projects such as converter platforms.
