E.ON speeds first German offshore wind park link
FRANKFURT, April 14 (Reuters) - Work on a transformer and cable housings to bring offshore wind power to Germany's mainland for the first time is on course for a likely start in October, utility E.ON's EONG.DE network division said on Monday.
The alpha ventus wind park, also known as Borkum West and situated some 45 km north of the island of Borkum near the German-Dutch border, will be Germany's first such venture.
"This wind park will probably start in October as the first of its kind in the North Sea," E.ON Netz said in a statement.
Once the plant becomes operational, it will form the foundation to research and implement some 30 or more pending projects in the German North and Baltic Seas territories.
Offshore wind power is one of the core elements of the German government's push to double the level of renewable energies to a third of power production by 2020, as searches for more onshore wind sites are largely exhausted.
Red tape and environmental concerns have so far delayed projects coming through but legal certainty about network connections and above market price guarantees for the power have lately cleared the way for further development.
The technical connection for alpha ventus could start in September, once the 70 km-long cables have been laid, and a new transformer plant at Hagermarsch has been built, E.ON said, putting its investments at 42 million euros ($66 million).
E.ON holds a stake in the Borkum project via its subsidiary E.ON Energy Projects, where Oldenburg utility EWE and Vattenfall Europe VTTG.DE are other operating partners.
Turbine makers Repower (RPWGn.DE) and Areva's (CEPFi.PA) Multibrid are supplying the equipment. (Reporting by Vera Eckert)
