Offshore wind accounted for just 0.7% of Germany's total wind energy capacity of 30GW at the end of June. However, construction of new offshore wind stations is beginning to gather pace and the country is generally seen as likely to be the largest offshore wind construction market over the next few years.
Electricity generated by an additional 45MW of new German offshore wind capacity fed into grid during the first six months of the year. This raised Germany's operational offshore capacity to 200.3MW, according to data released today by the German wind energy association Bundesverband Windenergie (BWE).
Of nine newly-commissioned turbines, six were installed this year with the remaining three installed last year. All nine were installed at the Bard Offshore 1 station, being built by the Bard Group whose financial troubles have made headlines. Another 20 offshore turbines were partially installed during the January to June 2012 period.
Three offshore wind stations are currently under construction in German waters:
- Bard Offshore 1, construction began in 2010
- Borkum West 2, construction began in 2011
- Riffgat, begun this year.
By the end of the year, construction on further projects is due to begin, including Nordsee Ost. These projects will collectively feature more than 400 turbines and will have a combined capacity of about 2GW, said BWE.
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