Background

Winkra Offshore Nordsee Planungs- und Betriebsgesellschaft mbH began planning the Nordsee Ost wind farm in 2000. Two years later, the project was taken over by Essent N. V. In October 2009, as part of the takeover of Essent N. V. by RWE AG, Nordsee Ost was transferred to RWE Innogy, and is now wholly owned by it.

Permission

Approval from the Federal Office for Shipping and Hydrography (Bundesamt für Seeschiff­fahrt und Hydrographie) was granted in 2004 and one year later, the Amrumbank metering mast was installed. This mast records specific wind, wave and current data, which is used as the basis for planning and operation of the Nordsee Ost wind farm.

In addition, in 2006, a 5 megawatt REpower turbine was installed at Cuxhaven, which is being tested for performance, durability and reliability. In this way, important experiences, which will be incorporated in the planning of the Nordsee Ost project, are being gathered regarding the operation of multi-megawatt offshore turbines.

One year after commissioning of the Cuxhaven test site, the project was granted the necessary authorisations for the offshore cables.

Feasibility studies

During the course of the development period, a thorough investigation of the wind farm site conditions was conducted, which covered both the economic feasibility of the project and the technical feasibility.

Subjects of investigations amongst other things have been:

• Soil investigations
• Weather conditions (for which a metering mast has been installed)
• Environmental impact assessment
• Project finance