Metamorphoses of an Offshore Wind Farm

Abstract

The planning, construction and operation of Germany’s first offshore test field, Alpha Ventus, was a protracted process, because offshore wind farms costing hundreds of millions is uncertain territory for investors, banks and insurance companies. A project planning company initially planned the Borkum West wind farm in the late 1990s. The building permit was then acquired by the Offshore Wind Energy Foundation, which in turn leased the rights of use to an energy industry consortium consisting of E.ON, EWE and Vattenfall on condition that it actively supported the research in the test field. The Alpha Ventus test field, with 12 five-megawatt-class turbines, was erected, and officially inaugurated in April 2010. In addition to electricity production – sufficient for over 50,000 households – Alpha Ventus has also become home to the RAVE Initiative scientists and their research projects. Of everything that has been learned from Alpha Ventus, the main lesson is that it really was a joint effort.