Germany has rejected a request from TotalEnergies to return its NordseeEnergies 2 (NSE2) offshore wind concession in the North Sea, with Economy and Energy Minister Katherina Reiche stating that concession awards are binding commitments. The decision follows discussions between TotalEnergies and German authorities regarding the future of the 1.5 GW project.
The company had sought to hand back the concession amid concerns over project delays and uncertainty surrounding the timing of the grid connection.
Reiche said that concessions awarded through competitive tenders cannot simply be withdrawn after they have been granted, effectively ruling out TotalEnergies' request to exit the project.
TotalEnergies launched a strategic review of its German offshore wind portfolio in 2025, which led to discussions with the authorities regarding the NSE2 concession.
On 11 June, the company announced that it had submitted the permit application for NSE2 and paid the first 10% instalment required to maintain its rights under the licence. It also stated that it would seek compensation related to delays and uncertainty associated with the grid connection schedule.
The 156 km² site is located approximately 120 km northwest of Helgoland in the German North Sea. TotalEnergies was awarded the concession by Germany’s Federal Network Agency in 2024.
