REpower Systems AG Installs First of Six Turbines at Offshore Site

REpower Systems AG announced that they have completed the first of six 5MW turbines for the Alpha Ventus Offshore wind field. Each system has a capacity of 5MW, with blade height of 155 meters sticking above sea level. 

Each of the six turbines are estimated to produce 18 million kilowatt hours each year to be supplied back into the national grid. This estimate, however, is dependent upon optimum wind conditions. The project, located off the coast of Germany, is being funded by a consortium of energy giants including E.ON, EWE, and Vattenfall. The wind farm is being constructed 45 kilometres off the coast of the island of Borkum.

At the start of September, Thialf, the world’s biggest crane ship, helped anchor the six turbine foundations onto the seabed about 30 meters below sea level. Since that time the first of the six turbines has been secured to the first foundation, the other five turbines are scheduled to join the first one and be installed by the end of this year.

REpower Systems offshore director Norbert Giese said that of the 18 REpower 5M wind turbines that have been built, nine have been successfully installed at deep water locations off the coast. He also added that the first turbine will begin to supply electricity to the grid by the end of this year’s fiscal quarter. 

REpower Systems AG is one of the leading companies in the offshore wind energy turbine manufacturing sector. All turbines were pre-constructed at  a Dutch base harbor in Eemshaven prior to being installed off the coast, this included the hub and three rotor blades. The remaining of the components for the turbine, two tower segments and one nacelle, were then added at the site with a jack-up barge.