SSE Renewables Acquires 134 MW Onshore Wind Pipeline in Germany

SSE Renewables is expanding its onshore wind pipeline through the acquisition of development rights for a 134 MW onshore wind portfolio in Germany

SSE Renewables has announced that it is incrementally expanding its onshore wind pipeline through the acquisition of land and development rights to a 134 MW onshore wind portfolio in Germany from Holt Holding SA.

The firm has to date developed nearly 2.5 GW of onshore wind in the UK and Ireland and – in line with the SSE Group’s strategy to recycle capital for future developments – currently owns nearly 2 GW of onshore wind assets and operates over 2.5 GW, including on behalf of third parties. 

As well as realising its onshore development pipeline of over 1 GW in the UK and Ireland, it has consistently stated that leveraging SSE Renewables’ capabilities and its core competencies in renewable energy to other technologies and geographies may present significant potential to add to future growth opportunities. 

This incremental investment in pursuing an early opportunity in Germany sees the development rights to a portfolio of five projects totalling 134 MW of onshore wind opportunities transferring from Holt Holding SA Limited to SSE Renewables. 

Once permitted, the projects within this portfolio of onshore assets are expected to be eligible to enter the German onshore wind auction and bid for fixed-price contracts of 20 years. 

Germany has been a leading onshore wind market for many years. Continued growth in this market is expected in order to meet national targets for renewable generation to provide 50 percent of gross electricity consumption by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050, up from 38 percent today. 

In addition to its onshore activities, SSE Renewables continues to develop its more significant offshore wind pipeline of over 7 GW across the UK and Ireland. This includes Dogger Bank Wind Farms (3,600 MW, SSE Renewables share 50 percent) and Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm (1,075 MW). Both of these were successful in the recent UK Government Contracts for Difference auction (with contracts for 3,600 MW and 454 MW, respectively) and are progressing towards financial close.

Jim Smith, Managing Director of SSE Renewables said, “Whilst a small investment compared to our significant offshore wind pipeline, this first step will help provide more detailed insight into an adjacent market with significant growth potential. This acquisition is a good incremental addition to the SSE Renewables’ onshore pipeline.”