Offshore wind power project Arkona within budget and schedule

The steelworks of the offshore distribution station for the planned Arkona wind farm in the Baltic Sea are now finished. It has been moved by transport barge from its previous dock in STX France’s shipyard to a dry dock. This so-called ‘keel-laying’ ceremony was commemorated by project partners E.ON, Statoil, and 50Hertz together with STX France in St. Nazaire on the Atlantic coast, in a ceremony attended by a list of international guests including the German und the Norwegian ambassadors to France, Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut and Rolf Einar Fife.

Weighing over 5,000 tons and as tall as a 5-floor apartment block, the distribution station will form the centerpiece of the Arkona offshore wind farm, currently under construction by E.ON together with its partner Statoil off the coast of the German island Rügen. This joint Franco-German production will be installed in 30 meter-deep water. The platform will be used simultaneously by the Arkona wind farm and the power grid operator 50Hertz: here, the renewable energy generated by the individual wind turbines will be brought together and sent to the mainland via an undersea cable. E.ON is the platform’s owner and will operate the wind farm after it is completed.

In his speech, Sven Utermöhlen, member of the management at E.ON Climate & Renewables, praised the collaboration with 50Hertz and STX. He referred to E.ON’s involvement in expanding renewable energies in general. ‘In Europe and the USA, we are currently building wind farms capable of generating nearly 1,300 megawatts – enough to power a metropolis like Hamburg. This effort shows that E.ON is a motor driving the realization of a new, green world of energy.’

Frederic Grizaud, Vice President Marine Energy at STX France: “We are proud to be part of the Arkona project, which exemplifies what kind of synergies European companies can achieve together in the development of renewable energies. We are bringing to renowned customers innovative solutions and the highest standards of reliability and performance. With this project, STX France is definitely an industrial partner for the energy transition in Europe.”

At the offshore distribution station, the electrotechnical components are currently being fitted. The station will then be transported by sea along the French Atlantic coast to the Baltic. This journey will take nearly two weeks to complete and is expected to take place in early 2018.

The Arkona project is located 35 kilometers northeast of the island of Rügen. The wind farm will generate 385 megawatts (MW) of power, which can theoretically supply renewable energy for 400,000 households. Compared with conventionally generated electricity, Arkona will save up to 1.2 million tons of CO2 per year. 60 6-MW wind turbines manufactured by Siemens will be installed. The plants will be built on monopile foundations in water depths from 23 up to 37 meters. Arkona is a joint venture of E.ON with the Norwegian energy company Statoil.