Germany has refused TotalEnergies’ request to return the NordseeEnergies 2 (NSE2) offshore wind concession in the North Sea, stating that licenses awarded through tender procedures remain binding.
The 1.5 GW project had been under discussion between TotalEnergies and German authorities after the company raised concerns over delays and uncertainty around the grid connection schedule.
German Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche made clear that a successful bid cannot be withdrawn after an award has been made. The decision leaves TotalEnergies with no approved route to hand the concession back to the state.
The matter followed a strategic review launched by TotalEnergies in 2025 covering its offshore wind interests in Germany. That review led to talks with German authorities over the future of NSE2.
On 11 June, TotalEnergies said it had filed the permit application for NSE2 and paid the first 10% installment required under the license. The company said the steps were taken to maintain its rights while it sought compensation linked to delays and uncertainty in the grid connection timetable.
The NSE2 site spans 156 sq km and is located about 120 km northwest of Heligoland in the German North Sea. Germany’s Federal Network Agency awarded the concession to TotalEnergies in 2024.
Germany’s position differs from the approach taken in the United States, where the Trump administration has compensated offshore wind developers for giving up licenses and shifting investment toward fossil fuel projects.
The US has spent nearly $2.6 billion on offshore wind buybacks. The US Department of the Interior bought two leases from TotalEnergies for almost $1 billion. Two other companies agreed to return two leases under a deal worth about $900 million, while Invenergy ended four offshore wind leases in the New York Bight, California and the Gulf of Maine for $765 million.
