Iberdrola's first offshore wind farm in Germany

The Spanish energy company Iberdrola has begun the process to install its first offshore wind farm in Germany, the Wikinger, which will be located off the German coast of the Baltic Sea. It will have 400 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity and wind turbines of around 5 MW.

The company has started to apply for the permits from Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie, the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency. This phase includes a detailed presentation of the planned design and a comprehensive environmental impact report, based on numerous studies carried out over the last 12 months. Wikinger is located in the northern part of an area known as Westlich Adlergrund, which the Germany authorities have designated as a Priority Offshore Development Area, around 40 km from the nearest coast, Rügen island. The average depth is around 39m.

In March 2010, Iberdrola had acquired 100% of the construction rights to this offshore complex from the joint venture between DEE Deutsche Erneuerbare Energien GmbH (Deutsche Bank Group) and Ventotec GmbH (GHF-Group). At the time, the plant had already obtained permits from the German government to install floating wind turbines.

After an in-depth analysis of the project and the site, the company decided it was better to use large turbines on fixed structures directly anchored on the sea floor. This solution matches the specific conditions of the Baltic Sea and the planned technological development at the time of the farm’s construction better.

Once Iberdrola obtains administration authorisation, it intends to present the final plans for the offshore project in early 2014, with the aim of commencing construction in 2015 and offloading to the grid the first kilowatts in 2016.