Wind energy carried from the North Sea by transmission grid operator (TSO) TenneT rose by 16 percent in the first half of 2019, compared to the same period of last year. TenneT has delivered 9.51 terawatt hours (TWh) from North Sea wind turbines this year, compared to 8.17 TWh in the first half of 2018, according to preliminary data quoted by CleanEnergyWire.

TenneT COO Tim Meyerjürgens said North Sea power made up a stable share of roughly 15 percent of Germany’s total wind power generation (in 2018, offshore wind accounted for three percent of Germany’s total gross power production). Offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea – not run by TenneT – generated a further 2.13 TWh during the first half of this year, bringing total wind power production to 11.64 TWh, compared to 9.04 TWh over the same period in 2018.Offshore wind is a pillar of the German energy transition. Just over 1,300 turbines were already operating in the country’s territorial waters in 2018. Lobby groups say the government should allow for faster growth, and that the country’s 2030 target for offshore wind capacity should rise from 15 to 20 GW.