Project At Risk

TotalEnergies publicly signalled intent to withdraw from its 2 GW NordSee Energies 1 (N-12.1) offshore wind lease in the German EEZ, awarded in the 2023 BNetzA dynamic-bidding round, awarded for EUR 3.75 bn. As reported by cleanenergywire (citing the 2026-05-18 Sueddeutsche Zeitung exclusive), TotalEnergies stated that 'several projects from auction rounds between 2023 and 2025 probably cannot be implemented' under current conditions. The cited drivers are slow grid connections and a deteriorating economic environment. Germany does not currently permit voluntary withdrawal from auctioned offshore wind sites, so TotalEnergies' position is an at-risk signal rather than a confirmed pause or cancellation. Across the 2023 + 2024 rounds TotalEnergies committed circa EUR 6 bn (EUR 800 m paid, EUR 750 m as security deposit) for a German portfolio of ~5 GW spanning NSE1 (N-12.1), NSE2 (N-11.2), OstSee Energies (O-2.2) and N-9.4. If a voluntary-return mechanism is enacted (currently being lobbied for by BWO and others), the project would revert to BNetzA for re-auction.