Legal & Economics · BNetzA Auction · EEG 2024

EEG Auctions for Onshore Wind

Since 2017, all wind turbines > 750 kW must obtain support through BNetzA auctions. Four rounds per year, pay-as-bid pricing, ceiling of 7.35 ct/kWh. Understanding the mechanism is key to optimising your bidding strategy.

Auction Dates 2026

Bid Date	Volume	Ceiling Price
1 February 2026	4,094 MW	7.35 ct/kWh
1 May 2026	3,250 MW	7.35 ct/kWh
1 August 2026	3,962 MW	7.35 ct/kWh
1 November 2026	3,094 MW	7.35 ct/kWh
Annual Volume 2026	14,400 MW	—

BNetzA adjusts volumes annually. Expansion target: 115 GW onshore by 2030.

Auction Process

Pre-qualification: BImSchG permit must be in place before the bid date
Bid submission: electronically via the BNetzA platform, anonymous
Pay-as-bid: each successful bidder receives their own bid price (not the market-clearing price)
Award notification: approx. 2 weeks after the bid date
30-month deadline: commissioning must occur by then, otherwise penalty payment

Bidding Strategy

The central decision: bid as close to the ceiling as possible (maximum return, but risk of rejection in tight competition) or below (secure award, but lower margin).

Strategy	Advantage	Risk
Ceiling strategy	Maximum return	Rejection if competition is stronger
Safety strategy (5–10 % below ceiling)	Near-certain award	Lower margin
Min-LCOE strategy	Margin maximised	Rejection if competition > LCOE

Award Statistics — Recent Rounds

Round	Volume	Awards	Median Award
Feb 2025	4,094 MW	3,987 MW	7.33 ct/kWh
May 2025	3,250 MW	3,250 MW	7.34 ct/kWh
Aug 2025	3,962 MW	3,962 MW	7.33 ct/kWh
Nov 2025	3,094 MW	3,094 MW	7.32 ct/kWh

As of 2025/2026: bids virtually always at the ceiling. Competition has eased — volumes are fully awarded.

Penalties for Delays

Failure to commission within 30 months: €10/kW + forfeiture of award
Delay up to 30 months: penalty of €5/kW/month from the 24th month
6-month extension possible for unforeseeable supply-chain delays

Trend 2026: current award statistics show a relaxed volume-to-demand ratio — the ceiling is fully utilised. Plan a 6-month buffer for the BImSchG process before your target bid date.

EEG auctions for onshore wind 2026: 5-step process BImSchG to bid submission to pay-as-bid to award to commissioning. 4 rounds: Feb 4,094, May 3,250, Aug 3,962, Nov 3,094 MW, total 14,400 MW, ceiling 7.35 ct/kWh. Bidding strategies: ceiling, safety minus 5-10 percent, min-LCOE. Penalties: 5 EUR/kW from 24 months, 10 EUR/kW plus forfeiture from 30 months

EEG Auctions for Wind — Process, 2026 dates and bidding strategies

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if a bid exceeds the ceiling?

It is invalid — exclusion from that round. Participation in the next round is still possible.

Can I submit bids for multiple turbines?

Yes, each turbine separately or bundled as a wind farm. For a farm, the same bid value applies to all turbines.

Are community wind companies privileged?

Historically yes, currently under review due to EU state-aid rules. As of 2026: no special conditions, but simplified pre-qualification is under discussion.