Solar power bidders eliminate onshore wind competitors in Germany’s second joint auction

In the second joint renewables auction for solar power and onshore wind power in Germany, solar power bidders have secured the entire auctioned volume of 201 megawatts (MW) at an average support rate of 5.27 eurocents per kilowatt hour (kWh), the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) says in a press release. “There was only one bid for onshore wind turbines, but it was above the support limit,” BNetzA head Jochen Homann said. According to the agency, “the entire auction effectively worked like an additional solar power tender.” The lowest support rate demanded was 4.65 ct/kWh and the highest 5.79 ct/kWh. The auction volume had been oversubscribed 1.5 times, the BNetzA said. 
In a separate press release, solar power lobby group BSW Solar and wind power lobby group BWE called on the government to end the “artificial competition” between the two technologies. “The energy transition needs solar and wind power alike” and these should complement each other to provide the greatest benefit for the energy system, the renewable power groups said. The auction’s success was “no reason to celebrate” for the solar power industry because the awarded tender volumes would now be deducted from solar power auctions next year.

Find the BNetzA press release in German here and the renewables groups’ press release in German here.

See the CLEW factsheets Solar power in Germany and Onshore wind power in Germany for more information.