bp to enter German offshore wind market with 4GW auction win

bp has been awarded the rights to develop two offshore wind projects in the German tender round, marking its entry into offshore wind in continental Europe.

The two North Sea sites, located 130km and 150km offshore in water depths of about 40m, have a total potential generating capacity of 4GW. Subject to receiving the necessary permits and approvals, these would be bp’s first offshore wind projects in Germany and are fully aligned with the company’s integrated energy company strategy and disciplined capital allocation.

bp will lead the development, construction and operations of these fixed-bottom offshore wind projects, with grid connection targeted by end 2030. bp’s global offshore wind pipeline now totals up to 9.2GW net to bp.

Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath, bp’s executive vice president, gas and & low carbon energy, said: “These awards are a huge milestone for bp’s decarbonization plans in Germany and are a strong reflection of our wider strategy. The renewable power we aim to produce will anchor the significant demand we expect for green electrons for our German operations, from a whole host of products and services including green hydrogen and biofuels production, electric mobility growth and refinery decarbonization.

Continuing, she said: “Germany is a core market for bp and we are excited to continue and grow our business here. The investment is fully aligned with our integrated energy strategy and is accommodated within our disciplined capital frame. Expected returns of 6-8% are consistent with our renewables and power growth engine on an unlevered basis, with the potential to realise enhanced value through integration across the Germany value chain.”

Initial payments totalling €678m, equivalent to 10% of the bid amount, will be paid by July 2024. The remaining 90% will be paid over a 20-year period when the projects become operational in the next decade.

bp and its predecessor companies have been operating in Germany for nearly 120 years and today it employs about 4,000 people in the country. bp operates two refineries in the country and Aral – Germany’s leading retail network with c 2,300 sites. It’s also a leading provider for EV fast-charging, providing 1,500 charging points in country.

Its main German offices are in Bochum and it recently expanded its Hamburg office to support its low carbon activities, including offshore wind and electric vehicle charging. bp has extensive low carbon hydrogen plans in country and earlier this year unveiled Europe’s first charging corridor for heavy-duty electric trucks.

bp’s head of country, Patrick Wendeler, added: “We are investing massively in Germany’s energy transition and in our own – from renewable power generation to having an impact on the decarbonization of road transport to the decarbonization of our refineries. Our major existing businesses here are transforming – powered by green hydrogen, biofuels and offshore wind. And today’s win accelerates the pace of change as we look to do more. We look forward to the important role we can play in contributing to Germany’s energy transition and its efforts to become climate neutral in 2045.”

The recent tender supports Germany’s target of having 30GW of offshore wind projects installed by 2030, at least 40GW by 2035 and at least 70GW by 2045.

To date, bp has an offshore wind pipeline with a potential generating capacity, with our joint venture partners, of up to 5.2GW net to bp with projects under development off the US east coast and in the UK in the Irish and North Seas. It has also formed a partnership in Japan with Marubeni and earlier this year acquired a majority stake in a project portfolio of four potential projects in South Korea.

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