Iberdrola Starts Work on Wikinger Offshore Windfarm

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Work has started on the 350-megawatt (MW) Wikinger offshore windfarm located in the German waters of the Baltic Sea, approximately 34 kilometres (km) northeast of the island of Ruegen.

The project, which was expected to begin last year, was delayed after the assignment of grid capacity by Germany's federal network agency was put back. The windfarm is the first German offshore project for Spanish energy major Iberdrola S.A. (BMAD:IBE) (Bilbao, Spain). It will see the installation of 70 wind turbines rated at 5 MW each from Adwen (Bremen, Germany), a 50:50 joint venture between AREVA S.A. (EPA:AREVA) (Paris, France) and Gamesa Corporation Technology S.A. (BMAD:GAM) (Zamudio, Spain). When commissioned in late 2017, it will be capable of generating enough power for approximately 350,000 German homes. The project is worth 1.4 billion euro ($1.57 billion).

"Two things are apparent today: the energy turnaround is in full swing and our state is capable of tremendous value creation," said Christian Pegel, minister of energy, infrastructure and regional development in the German region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. "Here at the Sassnitz ferry port, Iberdrola has signed an agreement on land use for 25 years. This is reliable revenue for two and a half decades. We will also be receiving port charges for support vessels during this period. In addition, approximately 100 jobs will be created and are ensured for the next 25 years in the service sector. Today is a good day for the energy turnaround and for the business region Mecklenburg-Vorpommern."

Tanis Rey-Baltar, Iberdrola's project coordinator for Wikinger, commented:"The start of construction is an important milestone and the result of years of planning and studies. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the local and regional companies who have supported us in the steps we have taken thus far and will continue to actively support us throughout the rest of the construction work on Wikinger."

He added: "Facing water depths of up to 43 metres and using industry-leading installation methods requires skill and experience and we look forward to the progressing what will be a significant project for both Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Germany."

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