Abstract
Offshore wind decommissioning in Germany is legally anchored decades before execution. However, the technological, ecological, and industrial conditions under which disman-
tling will occur remain inherently uncertain. German offshore regulations institutionalize uncertainty through performance-based standards, financial security, and a state-of-the-art clause. This paper examines German offshore regulations concerning decommissioning analyzing exemplarily the permit framework of Nordlicht I and the emerging decommissioning process of alpha ventus. The analysis shows that while attempts are made to integrate end-of-life considerations into the approval phase of offshore wind farms, the empirical data and standards required to operationalize these considerations are still lacking