GermanyÂ’s massive windfarm on schedule

BORKUM, GERMANY - The biggest wind energy project in the German North Sea is moving ahead on schedule following a 400 million-euro US $519 million turbine order with French energy supplier Areva S.A.

Areva has been contracted to supply 40 of its M5000 turbines, rated at 5 megawatts MW each, for the Borkum West II offshore windfarm, which is 45 kilometres km off the northern coast of the island of Borkum in the German North Sea. There is also a provision for 40 additional M5000 turbines to be supplied during 2011. Alongside the turbines, Areva will provide commissioning, testing and maintenance services, but not the foundations, transport or erection services.

Borkum West II is owned by Trianel Energie GmbH, a joint venture owned by a number of German banks and electrical utilities, and is adjacent to Alpha Ventus, Germany's pilot offshore windfarm. Trianel only managed to close funding for the 500 million-euro US $648.92 million project in December. At the end of 2012 or the start of 2013, Borkum West II will have commissioned a generating a potential 200 MW, enough to provide some 200,000 households with electricity.

"Areva is thrilled to have jointly developed an efficient offshore solution with Trianel," said Anil Srivastava, CEO of Areva Renewables. "We are pleased that 11 leading banks have committed to finance this project. We look forward to the successful deployment of our state-of-the-art offshore wind turbines with long-term services essential for the windfarm's management."

Klaus Horstick, the managing director of Trianel, added: "Trianel's decision to invest in the Borkum West II project confirms the trust in the quality and the reliability of the offshore wind turbines designed and manufactured by Areva."

Areva's contract win has benefitted from the company's involvement in the construction of Germany's first offshore windfarm, Alpha Ventus, located nearby. In July 2009, the 60-MW windfarm began installing the first of its 12 turbines. By the end of 2009, it had six Areva Multibrid M5000 turbines and six of RePower's new 5M turbines, all rated at 5 MW. Commissioned in April 2010, the windfarm can supply enough power for 50,000 homes and is owned is by a consortium of companies, including E.ON AG Vattenfall Europe, which is part of Swedish utility Vattenfall AB and EWE AG, a German energy and gas provider.