Statements

AquaVentus participated in the consultation on the 2nd draft amendment to the BSH Area Development Plan 2025. The statement evaluates the three options put forward for consultation (N-10.1 / N-10.2 / SEN-1) from the perspective of the industrial scaling of offshore electrolysis. AquaVentus unanimously rejects Option 3 and supports an adapted Option 2 with full expansion capacity of 2,000 MW on N-10.1 and up to two 250 MW electrolysis platforms on SEN-1. The central demand is to enable combined connection concepts for electricity and hydrogen — not only in areas (Bereiche) but also on designated sites (Flächen).

As part of the public consultation, AquaVentus submitted a statement on the first draft of the 2037/2045 (2025) grid development plan of the transmission system operators. In particular, we criticize the consistent exclusion of offshore hydrogen production in the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and call for the consideration of combined connection concepts and greater integration of sector coupling and offshore electrolysis in grid planning.

The AquaVentus Förderverein has participated in the consultation on the amendment of the Wind Energy at Sea Act (WindSeeG) with a comprehensive statement. The aim is to create the conditions for a gradual scaling up of offshore hydrogen production - starting with pilot and demonstration projects through to industrial use. A central concern is the legal facilitation of combined connection concepts from electricity and hydrogen infrastructure as well as a market-integrated perspective for the ramp-up. AquaVentus emphasizes the importance of technological openness, planning security and system efficiency in the interaction of offshore wind and hydrogen.

On 28 July 2025, the AquaVentus Förderverein e.V. submitted a statement on the draft bill of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action for a "Law to Accelerate the Availability of Hydrogen". AquaVentus welcomes the goal of accelerating the regulatory ramp-up of the hydrogen economy. At the same time, we criticize the restriction in the draft whereby only electrolysers on land and in the coastal sea area are to receive preferential treatment. Offshore electrolysers in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) would thus remain legally excluded – even though they are crucial for grid-serving, scalable and resilient hydrogen production.

As a cross-industry initiative, AquaVentus is committed to the production and transportation of green hydrogen at sea. In view of the central role of offshore electrolysis in Germany's and Europe's future energy system, we would like to use this statement to draw particular attention to the need to re-establish hydrogen production at sea and its transportation by pipeline as a project in the overriding public interest and public safety in the legal text - in line with the original version of the draft.

On January 31, 2025, the European Commission launched a consultation on energy infrastructure projects as part of the Trans-European Energy Networks (TEN-E). The aim is to obtain the status of a project of common interest (PCI) or a project of mutual interest (PMI) within the meaning of the TEN-E Regulation (EU/2022/869). The consultation covers candidates of all energy infrastructure categories.

AquaVentus Förderverein e.V. submitted a statement as part of the consultation on the informational presentation in Annex 3 of the 2025 land development plan. AquaVentus is committed to the sustainable development of offshore hydrogen production and considers the considerations for optimizing grid connection and land use to be central to future offshore planning in Zones 4 and 5. In particular, the aspects of peak capping, increasing the transmission capacity of offshore grid connection systems (ONAS) and legally enabling combined connection concepts require in-depth examination.

As part of the consultation on the scenario framework for electricity, gas and hydrogen in the grid development plan, we would like to make our contribution as AquaVentus Förderverein. As an association of numerous stakeholders committed to the production of green hydrogen on the high seas, we see it as our responsibility to actively help set the course for sustainable infrastructure. We call in particular for the early integration of hydrogen pipelines into the grid development plan, long-term planning for future hydrogen demand, and the consideration of cross-border grid solutions.

With the publication of the draft of the next area development plan (FEP), AquaVentus recognizes a further step towards achieving the expansion targets for offshore electricity set by the German government. We expressly welcome this. In addition, we see areas available for the designation of other energy generation areas, especially in areas further from the coast, up to the so-called duckbill. This will make it possible to expand German hydrogen production at sea to 10 GW of electrolysis capacity and up to 1 million tons of green hydrogen. We also welcome the fact that the concept of hydrogen transportation by means of a collection pipeline is anchored in the FEP draft.

The AquaVentus Förderverein e.V. welcomes the present draft law, which will enable an acceleration of the hydrogen market ramp-up. The right auction design, which takes into account the considerable risks of the first projects, is a crucial prerequisite for the successful ramp-up of this technology. This will ensure the realization of the projects on the SEN-1 areas and the transport of the volumes via a national collection pipeline connected to Europe.

The AquaVentus Förderverein e.V. welcomes the draft law which legally anchors the second stage of the development of a Germany-wide hydrogen network and thus supports the acceleration of the hydrogen market ramp-up. Therefore, AquaVentus sees it as necessary that the new network development plan must also include gas and hydrogen offshore H2 pipelines like our AquaDuctus H2 pipeline.

The AquaVentus Förderverein welcomes the opportunity to comment on the procedure to amend and update the area development plan (FEP) in accordance with Section 8 (WindSeeG). Only close consultation and cooperation among all relevant stakeholders will enable the ramp-up of offshore electrolysis as an important contribution to an integrated energy system transformation. The BSH has taken important suggestions from AquaVentus into account in the current further development.

The AquaVentus Förderverein e.V. expressly welcomes the initiated consultation on possible sub-areas in the SEN-1 tender. The division of the 102 km² SEN area envisaged in the land development plan (FEP) into several individual areas and the resulting possible sequential allocation is a central and correct step towards achieving a rapid and efficient market ramp-up for offshore electrolysis.

Achieving the climate protection and expansion targets for green hydrogen in the Federal Republic of Germany has long been and continues to be a central concern for us. We therefore welcome the publication of the key points for a funding guideline for offshore electrolysis. The planned sea area tender for the SEN-1 area and its upstream funding tender can be the decisive starting signal to achieve the goals for offshore electrolysis.

The realization of the AquaVentus concept of 10 GW offshore electrolysis capacity has been brought a step closer with this second draft of the land development plan (FEP), as the pipeline concept is now included and at least one additional SEN area is designated. We also welcome the removal of the pre-determination of an electrical connection for the areas in the so-called duckbill.

The AquaVentus project family can contribute significantly to the decarbonization of German as well as European energy supply, while promoting domestic value creation, creating skilled jobs in the northern German region and minimizing environmental impact. To make this concept a reality, a political expansion path for planning and investment security, important adjustments to the land development plan (FEP), and accompanying funding are required.

Hydrogen production at sea in the German exclusive economic zone can contribute as an essential building block for achieving the target of offshore capacity expansion as well as for efficient decarbonization of the industry. The present draft amendment to the WindSeeG offers important starting points here, but should take even greater account of the outstanding importance of offshore hydrogen. This includes, in particular, explicitly enabling hydrogen transport via collection pipelines.