The German Offshore Wind Energy Association (BWO) has published a white paper calling for Germany’s critical infrastructure protection requirements to be adapted to the specific conditions of offshore wind farms. The report argues that existing industry security and management systems already provide a high level of protection and should serve as the basis for implementing the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act (KRITIS), rather than being replaced by duplicative requirements.

In its white paper, From Contribution to Benchmark: Sector-Specific Requirements in the Special Maritime Situation, the BWO highlights the operational differences between offshore wind farms and critical infrastructure on land. Facilities located far out at sea can only be accessed by ship or helicopter when weather conditions permit, while governmental responsibilities are distributed among several authorities. According to the association, these circumstances require security measures to be tailored to the maritime environment to ensure effective protection without creating unnecessary administrative or operational overlaps.

The report assesses approximately 30 operator obligations under the KRITIS framework, examining whether existing requirements and compliance models can be applied to offshore operations. The BWO concludes that most can be transferred, in many cases with adjustments to response times or access conditions, while only a limited number require fundamentally different approaches.

BWO Managing Director Stefan Thimm said the offshore wind industry had been proactively involved in discussions on critical infrastructure protection and stressed that policymakers should build on the security structures already established by operators. He also warned that duplicating existing systems could ultimately undermine, rather than strengthen, protection levels.