Electricity from offshore wind energy installations can and should  make an important contribution to the future energy and climate policy of the Federal Republic of Germany. The high average wind speeds offshore promise enormous energy potentials. With the development of the wind energy technology, which has already proven to be very reliable and cost-saving onshore, these potentials can be assumed. The offshore wind energy will play a crucial role. With an expected gradual expansion of the German wind energy capacity offshore from 20,000 to 25,000 MW by 2030 an estimated investment volume of around 50 billion ? can be expected.
Market Area German North Sea
The German North Sea includes the area of the 12-seamile zone and the subsequent seaward exclusive economic zone of up to 200 nautical miles from the coast. In this area according to a study by Prognos AG it is expected with an average annual construction from 2011 to 2040 (new developments and repowering) of about 200 wind turbines. By 2040 the maximum achievement of approximately 4,500 turbines installed in the North Sea will be reached. This stock includes the deconstruction and repowering of outdated facilities and corresponds to a electrical capacity of over 30 GW.

Market Area Europe
In view of the proximity to Bremerhaven a closer examination of the offshore planning of the surroundings countries in the North Sea such as Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands and the United Kingdom, hereafter referred to as EU5 (including Germany), particularly interesting. Based on an annual construction rate of about 100 installations in the period 2006-2010, the annual number of installed wind turbines will increase until 2015 to more than 300. From 2016 to 2020, the annual number of new facilities in the EU5 will amount to more than 700 wind turbines, while the maximum will be reached in the early 2020s with more than 750 installations. Similar to the German course from 2025 by 2030 repowering will also start here. Including repowering by 2040 an average of 600 wind turbines will be built p.a. in the EU5. The maximum stock level will be reached in the mid 2030s and amounts to about 13,000 wind turbines.

Further Information
The complete study of Prognos AG and a short summary (Brochure Offshore Terminal Bremerhaven) is available for downloads.