The German Offshore Wind Energy Association (BWO) is continuing to develop successfully: In the first year after opening up to the offshore wind energy value chain, the BWO has significantly increased its membership.
"With the certification and consulting group DNV as our latest new member, we have grown to 45 members. I would like to thank the 21 new members who joined the BWO last year for their trust in our work. And I am very pleased about the expertise they bring to the association," says BWO Managing Director Stefan Thimm.
Thimm is thus drawing a positive conclusion from the further development of the former Federal Association of Offshore Wind Farm Operators. "Thanks to the expertise gained by our new members, the newly established BWO represents the entire offshore wind value chain. With this success, the association can demonstrate its relevance as a competent contact for all political and industry-relevant questions about this fascinating technology even better," Thimm is convinced.
"With the new direction, the association is geared towards the increasing importance of offshore wind energy for climate-friendly energy supply," says Jörg Kubitza, Chairman of the Board of BWO eV. The federal government has set the long-term German expansion targets in the Offshore Wind Energy Act at at least 70 gigawatts by 2045. Currently, almost 9 gigawatts are installed in German waters.
"The BWO is developing just as dynamically as the industry. That is why the association is also devoting itself to new topics such as efficient planning of offshore wind energy, cooperation with neighboring countries and the protection of offshore wind energy from physical and virtual attacks," says Kubitza.
Background: the history of the BWO
In 2015, the predecessor organization of the BWO, the Offshore Wind Energy Association (AGOW), was founded by twelve companies. These were previously organized as operators under the umbrella of the Offshore Wind Energy Foundation. In 2018, the Offshore Wind Energy Association was renamed the "Federal Association of Offshore Wind Farm Operators". The association reached an important milestone in 2019: Since then, it has represented all existing and planned offshore wind farms in Germany.
In the wake of the accelerated expansion of offshore wind energy, the association decided in 2023 to open itself up to all major companies in the offshore wind energy value chain. Accordingly, since then, as the Federal Association for Offshore Wind Energy, it has been responsible for the political representation of the interests of the offshore wind industry in Germany. For politicians and authorities at federal and state level, the BWO is the central contact for all questions relating to offshore wind energy.
