Investments in German Offshore Wind Power Uncertain

Mike Winkel, the head of the utility’s clean-energy unit, said that the investment into German offshore wind power could stop after 2015 due to delays in connecting the wind farms to the grid.

“No one will be further investing if the network connection is uncertain, neither Eon nor someone else,“ Said Winkel.

Tennet will connect EON’s Amrumbank West offshore wind farm to the grid with a 15 month delay.

The reason for the delay is that the network operators have underestimated the problem. They do not have sufficient financial incentives, the suppliers did not manage to make the necessary cables and the government bodies in charge of the wind farm approval disagree among each other.

[mappress]
Offshore Wind Staff , February  15, 2012; Image: e.on