The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) has determined the addressee and the amount of support under the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) by means of a call for tenders since 2021 onwards for wind turbines at sea that are commissioned from January 1, 2026 onwards. With the amended Offshore Wind Energy Act (WindSeeG), which came into force on January 1, 2023, there is a change in the tendering process for centrally pre-surveyed areas to bidding criteria that are newly defined in sec. 51 WindSeeG. The location, timing and sequence of the areas to be tendered are determined in each case by the Site Development Plan (FEP).

The sites defined in the FEP are examined by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) in accordance with sec. 9 et seqq. WindSeeG. The preliminary site investigation comprises studies on the marine environment (sec. 10 para. 1 no. 1 WindSeeG), the preliminary investigation of the subsoil (sec. 10 para. 1 no. 2 WindSeeG), the investigation of the wind and oceanographic conditions on the area to be tendered (sec. 10 para. 1 no. 3 WindSeeG) as well as necessary studies on shipping to identify hazards to the safety and ease of traffic from the installation and operation of offshore wind turbines (sec. 10 para. 1 no. 4 WindSeeG).

The results of the investigations and related documents are made available via the data hub. The provision serves the fulfillment of the legal obligation from sec. 50 sen. 2 no. 7 WindSeeG.