Offshore Wind at the 18th NRW Wind Energy Industry Day at the Zeughaus Neuss

In NRW, wind on land meets wind at sea – I am delighted to be organizing the offshore wind programme for Lorenz Kommunikation’s traditional 18th NRW Wind Energy Industry Day for the third year running. And I am particularly looking forward to moderating the event. The 18th Industry Day Wind Energy NRW by Lorenz Kommunikation will take place from June 30 – July 1, 2026 as last year in the Zeughaus Neuss.

The 18th edition of the NRW Wind Energy Industry Day goes beyond the topics of wind energy on land and at sea, as renewable energy, freedom and peace energy for, in and from NRW.
Just like industrial policy, energy does not stop at state borders, not even at national borders. With patron Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy and Deputy Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Mona Neubaur, and the 2nd Federal Chairman of Bündnis 90/Grüne, Sven Giegold, the 18th NRW Wind Energy Industry Day will take a look beyond the horizon with a European perspective. At the same time, the focus is on NRW – the federal state that unites the energy-intensive and wind industries in one location and realizes transformation on many different levels at the same time.
In three blocks over two days, I am looking forward to Frontier Economics, TotalEnergies Renewables, Summit Renewable Power GmbH, trend:research, Amprion GmbH, NKT, Aqua Ventus, ZVEI e.V., among others, and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (speaker confirmation pending), Greengate (requested) and Thyssenkrupp (requested) and …. Lorenz Kommunikation will publish the program in the first week of May.

We will discuss long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) that enable the decarbonization of energy-intensive companies in NRW on the basis of stable energy prices and how offshore wind farms can be financed with indexed contracts for difference (CfDs). How does electrification fit in with the supply of green hydrogen to the primary industry? What significance does the “Made in Europe” development (IAA, NZIA, CID, …) have for NRW and for the offshore wind industry in Europe? And much more.

Block I – Offshore Wind CfD vs. PPA – Advantages and disadvantages for industry and financing – EU Policy – DE Regulatory Offshore Wind
Block II – Resilience and competitiveness, cost reduction & investment security / Offshore wind in NRW / NRW for offshore wind
Block III – Electricity meets hydrogen and both meet demand

The current wars over fossil fuels and the associated price explosions for oil and gas illustrate the importance of a sovereign European energy supply. A secure, stable, cost-efficient and sustainable energy supply is a decisive locational advantage for NRW.

In a recent study by wind:research, commissioned by the BWO, NRW came first in the federal state rankings with the highest number of employees. In 2025, offshore wind accounted for over 31,000 full-time jobs nationwide and 14.6 billion euros in added value in Germany.

There have been no tenders so far this year and the new Offshore Wind Energy Act is also a long time coming. Green hydrogen vs. electrification in line with demand? This is where the content of the offshore wind part of the program comes in and I am looking forward to exciting discussions with the speakers and participants.

I hope to see you in Neuss!

Click here for the press release of the organizer Lorenz-Kommunikation: https://nrw-windenergie.de/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Leitmeldung-16.-April-2026-f.pdf

And here is the conference website: https://nrw-windenergie.de/

Updates will follow in the blog …

We hope that the mEErFrauen will be there.