Offshore Wind Energy Foundation

The Offshore Wind Energy Foundation (German: Stiftung Offshore-Windenergie), formally the Stiftung der deutschen Wirtschaft für die Nutzung und Erforschung der Windenergie auf See, is a German civil-law foundation (Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts) headquartered in Varel, Lower Saxony. It was founded in 2005 on the initiative and under the moderation of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), with backing from Germany's coastal states and from across the offshore wind industry — including operators and manufacturers of offshore wind turbines. Its stated purpose is to strengthen the role of offshore wind energy as active climate policy in the context of sustainable electricity generation, and to advance research, development and the build-out of large, high-capacity offshore wind farms in Germany and Europe. Rather than a commercial manufacturer or utility, the Foundation functions as a neutral convening, coordination and advocacy body. Its core work consists of moderating and leading working groups, organizing committees on offshore wind energy, and commissioning and driving studies that inform the public and build acceptance for offshore wind. It oversees roughly ten projects and working groups at any given time. Its board of trustees (Kuratorium) comprises more than 100 actors, including the German federal ministries for economic affairs and energy, defence, and transport, the energy ministries of the five northern German states plus North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg, as well as offshore wind farm operators, manufacturers, transmission system operators, suppliers, ports, maritime, industrial and energy associations, banks and insurers. A scientific advisory council supports the board and the trustees. The Foundation has been closely associated with landmark German offshore wind projects. It moderated the entire process of the offshore test field "alpha ventus" from the initial idea in 2005 to commissioning in 2010, and it holds the permitting rights for that test field, which is operated by Deutsche Offshore Testfeld- und Infrastruktur GmbH & Co. KG (DOTI), a joint subsidiary of EWE AG (47.5%) and E.ON Climate & Renewables GmbH and Vattenfall Europe New Energy GmbH (26.25% each). It has also coordinated noise-mitigation research (ESRA), supported the federal government's offshore expansion strategy through the OffWEA project, and participated in European research efforts such as PROMOTioN, Baltic InteGrid and Seeoff. In the present day the Foundation remains an active voice in German and international offshore wind policy. Its website reports on regulatory developments such as the WindSeeG amendment, on the award of Germany's first 2 GW offshore converter system to Rostock-Warnemünde, and on international cooperation, including a Memorandum of Understanding with Net Zero Atlantic of Canada signed at WindEnergy Hamburg 2026. It is led by a presidency and board, with Jens Eckhoff as President, Klaus Rave as Vice-President, and Ursula Prall as Chair of the Board, while Jörg Kuhbier holds the title of Honorary Chairman.

The Offshore Wind Energy Foundation was established in 2005 on the initiative and under the moderation of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). It was founded with the support of the German coastal states and of all economic sectors engaged in offshore wind energy, including operators and manufacturers of offshore wind turbines. It was constituted as a civil-law foundation (Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts) with its seat in Varel, Lower Saxony. Its founding purpose was to strengthen the role of offshore wind energy as active climate policy against the backdrop of sustainable electricity generation, and to promote research and development as well as the expansion of large, high-capacity offshore wind farms in Germany and Europe. One of the Foundation's earliest and most defining engagements was the offshore test field "alpha ventus". The Foundation moderated the entire process from the initial idea in 2005 through to commissioning in 2010, and it holds the permitting rights for the test field. The wind farm is operated by Deutsche Offshore Testfeld- und Infrastruktur GmbH & Co. KG (DOTI), a subsidiary of EWE AG (47.5%) and E.ON Climate & Renewables GmbH and Vattenfall Europe New Energy GmbH (26.25% each). From 2011, eight builders and operators of German offshore wind farms worked under the Foundation's umbrella on the ESRA project to research and further develop the effectiveness of various methods of noise mitigation during the construction of offshore wind turbines. The programme was designed to run for eight months, with costs of around €3.9 million shared equally by the cooperation partners. The offshore field trial was conducted in the Baltic Sea near Travemünde, testing five different methods to reduce the propagation of underwater sound. Through the OffWEA project, the Foundation supported the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in the further implementation of the federal government's offshore expansion strategy. This led to the establishment of the Standing Committee on Offshore Wind Energy of the Federal Government with the coastal states (StAOWind) and the Forum Offshore Wind Energy with environmental and nature conservation associations (FOWEUM), intended to optimize information and coordination regarding the expansion of offshore wind energy. The Foundation also became a partner in European research. In the EU project PROMOTioN (Progress on Meshed HVDC Offshore Transmission Networks), it analysed over four years the positive effects of developing a common offshore electricity grid infrastructure, particularly based on meshed high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission technology; the Foundation was responsible for project communication and stakeholder management, including corporate identity development and online communication. In the Baltic InteGrid project, running from March 2016 to February 2019 and funded by the European Union, the planning of offshore wind farm grid infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region was to be coordinated, with a meshed Baltic electricity grid seen as a contribution to sustainable electricity generation and security of supply. The Foundation also participated in Seeoff, a research project funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs with the aim of examining economic and technical concepts for the future decommissioning of offshore wind farms. Structurally, the Foundation is governed by a presidency elected by the board of trustees (Kuratorium), which leads its meetings and represents the Foundation externally. The Kuratorium comprises more than 100 actors, including the federal ministries for economic affairs and energy, defence, and transport, the energy ministries of the five northern German states as well as North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg, and representatives of offshore wind farm operators, manufacturers, transmission system operators, suppliers, ports, maritime, industrial and energy associations, banks and insurers. A scientific advisory council advises the board and the Kuratorium and supports their work professionally. The Foundation's essential work consists of moderating and leading working groups and organizing committees on offshore wind energy to support the energy transition with this technology, as well as initiating and driving studies to inform the public and promote acceptance of offshore wind energy; it oversees around ten projects and working groups in total. In the mid-2020s the Foundation remains an active policy voice. Its website reports on the WindSeeG amendment, the award of Germany's first 2 GW offshore converter system to Rostock-Warnemünde, the National Maritime Conference 2026, the extension of tonnage tax, and an international Memorandum of Understanding with Net Zero Atlantic of Canada signed at WindEnergy Hamburg 2026.

• 2026

  At WindEnergy Hamburg 2026, the Foundation signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Net Zero Atlantic of Canada to strengthen international cooperation.

• 2016

  Start of the EU-funded Baltic InteGrid project (March 2016 to February 2019), in which the Foundation participates to coordinate Baltic Sea offshore grid infrastructure planning.

• 2011

  Eight builders and operators of German offshore wind farms begin working under the Foundation's umbrella on the ESRA noise-mitigation research programme.

• 2010

  Commissioning of the alpha ventus offshore test field, whose process the Foundation moderated and for which it holds the permitting rights.

• 2005

  Foundation established on the initiative and under the moderation of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), with support from the German coastal states and the offshore wind industry.

• 2005

  The Foundation begins moderating the entire process of the alpha ventus offshore test field, from initial idea to commissioning.

A neutral, non-commercial industry foundation and policy voice that moderates, coordinates and advocates for offshore wind energy in Germany and Europe.

• alpha ventus offshore test field (moderation and permitting rights)

  The Foundation moderated the entire process from the 2005 idea to the 2010 commissioning and holds the permitting rights; the wind farm is operated by DOTI, a subsidiary of EWE AG (47.5%) and E.ON Climate & Renewables GmbH and Vattenfall Europe New Energy GmbH (26.25% each).

• ESRA noise-mitigation research programme

  From 2011, eight builders and operators of German offshore wind farms worked under the Foundation's umbrella to research and develop methods of noise mitigation during construction; the programme was designed for eight months at a cost of around €3.9 million, with a field trial in the Baltic Sea near Travemünde testing five methods.

• OffWEA project

  Supported the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in implementing the federal offshore expansion strategy, leading to the establishment of StAOWind and FOWEUM.

• PROMOTioN EU project

  Progress on Meshed HVDC Offshore Transmission Networks; the Foundation was a project partner responsible for project communication and stakeholder management.

• Baltic InteGrid project

  EU-funded project (March 2016 to February 2019) to coordinate offshore wind farm grid infrastructure planning in the Baltic Sea region.

• Seeoff project

  A research project funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs to examine economic and technical concepts for the future decommissioning of offshore wind farms.

1. 1Stiftung OFFSHORE-WINDENERGIE official websiteoffshore-stiftung.de
2. 2Stiftung Offshore-Windenergie – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Offshore Wind Energy Foundation – Wikidatawikidata.org