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Hamburg/Copenhagen, 26 October 2005. In his contribution at a podium discussion of the Copenhagen Offshore Wind starting today (to 28 October), Prof. Dr. Fritz Vahrenholt, CEO of REpower, called for support on the political and business front in respect to developing offshore wind energy in Germany. Costs for connecting the cables of the offshore wind parks to the land should be carried by the utility companies themselves, as is the case for other power plants. A future grand coalition must also improve conditions for the development of German offshore wind energy.
In the presence of the invited guests, including the deputy Danish Prime Minister Bendt Bendtsen and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Mr. Vahrenholt stated clearly that the development of offshore wind energy is an opportunity that should not be lost. “It has taken several years from the development to the commissioning of our offshore prototype onshore, the REpower 5M. Since then it has already reliably generated over seven million kilowatt hours power. We are ready for offshore deployment in order to produce wind electricity at competitive prices as quickly as possible. In Germany alone the potential is 30,000 megawatt. We have no time to lose.”
In doing so, Mr. Vahrenholt is calling for support from the utility companies: “The distance to the coast of 40-50 kilometers which is promoted by environmental policy makes connection to the grid more expensive. In Germany I would plead for utility companies generally bearing these costs, which in turn can reduce the feed-in tariffs by up to 30 per cent. These costs may not be charged to investors. Grid connections to all coal, gas and nuclear power stations are also carried by the utility companies and distributed via wheeling fees. Wind energy may not be placed in a worse situation.”
Vahrenholt also criticized that, especially in Germany, the necessary offshore de-velopment was being advanced far too slowly, partly due to the protracted approval processes for cable lines. “There is still not a single wind energy turbine in German waters. A grand political coalition must create better conditions here. After all, wind energy is the only energy source where lower costs can be expected, which is CO2-free and which makes us more independent of energy imports. I would hope that the utility companies carry this demand to the politicians – also and because they are investing in offshore wind parks.”
In the summer of next year, REpower is going offshore for the first time, with two 5M turbines. In the oil field “Beatrice” in Scottish Moray Firth, a wind test field is being established with a water depth of 44 meters. With additional test locations on land, REpower also wants to get its 5M turbines “seaworthy”. In German waters 12 systems are expected to be connected to the grid in 2007. As a member of the recently founded German Offshore Foundation, combining a group of associations, the large utility companies, the Federal Ministry for the Environment and representatives of the German coastal states, REpower is delivering four 5M for an approved test field near to the North Sea island of Borkum.
Contact:
Daniela Puttenat/ Corporate Communications & Public Relations
Alsterkrugchaussee 378 · 22335 Hamburg
phone: +49 40 5 39 30 - 714
fax: +49 40 5 39 30 - 737
email: D.Puttenat@repower.de
Thomas Schnorrenberg/Isabelle von Grone Investor Relations
Alsterkrugchaussee 378 · 22335 Hamburg
phone: +49 40 5 39 30 - 723
fax: +49 40 5 39 30 - 777
email: IR@repower.de
Homepage: www.repower.de |
