Posts Tagged ‘Germany’
Green land Denmark and Germany agree financing for Bornholm Energy Island
Denmark and Germany say they are ready to split the cost of any public funding needed to make sure that Bornholm Energy Island becomes a reality. Essentially a set of offshore windfarms that would double Denmark’s offshore wind capacity, the project, if completed, would send power to 4.5 million Danish and German consumers via its namesake island. More than that, say boosters, it provides a model for other mega energy projects that lawmakers are more keen on than investors.
Locally, the news has been well received. Even the healthiest of economies would find it hard to be unhappy about being the focal point of a multinational project whose final tab is expected to be over €4 billion. Bornholm, meanwhile, is still striken from the implosion of its fishing industry in the 1980s. But while a project of this sort will be good for its budding offshore industry, particularly if an associated industry estate comes to fruition, local lawmakers are still treading carefully: energy firms have yet to deem the project worth putting money into, while those living near the 111 hectare converter station will need be placated (read as: compensated). . Beyond that, there is irony of spoiling a chunk of pristine coastline of Denmark’s most popular tourism destination in the name of clean energy. If being a Danish island is a challenge these days, being a green one is doubly so.
Read MoreRWE and Aneo sign transaction agreement for the sale of RWE’s Swedish wind activities
RWE and Aneo, a Nordic renewables player, have signed a transaction agreement concerning RWE’s Swedish wind activities. This includes RWE’s onshore wind development pipeline (1.8 gigawatts), its onshore wind farms with a total operational capacity of 124 megawatts, the operational Karehamn offshore wind farm (48 megawatts), part of RWE’s third-party onshore service business, and the relevant development, operations and offshore teams assigned to the transferred projects and assets. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. Completion of this transaction is subject to customary approvals and is expected in the first quarter of 2026.
Katja Wünschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia: “We are delighted that our Swedish wind business and its project teams will be joining Aneo. As a key player in the Nordic wind sector, Aneo is dedicated to building a robust, long-term portfolio in Sweden, advancing energy projects that meet rising energy demand, create jobs and invest in communities. We are therefore pleased to have found a new home for our impacted employees, and we wish the Swedish team and its projects continued success. RWE’s strategic focus remains on its dynamic markets for attractive large-scale renewables growth.”
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Originally published on 23 Jan
Read MoreAgreement on the Bornholm Energy Island project: “Strong european signal in geopolitically difficult times.”
The agreement on the wind farms for the Bornholm Energy Island project is the decisive building block for the realisation of this particular German-Danish infrastructure undertaking.
Stefan Kapferer, CEO of 50Hertz: “The agreement be-tween Germany and Denmark has an impact on the offshore industry across Europe, extending far beyond the Baltic Sea project Bornholm Energy Island. It is furthermore a strong european signal in geopolitically difficult times. Both countries are breaking new regulatory ground and are therefore pio-neering the way forward. 50Hertz and Energinet will jointly contribute their expertise and experience and, as those responsible for the electricity hub on Bornholm and for the direct current connections to Denmark and Germany, will play their part in the success of the project overall.”
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Originally published on 26 Jan
Read MorePreparations underway for immersing tunnel elements into the Fehmarnbelt
Preparations for the special vessel IVY, which will play a key role in the construction of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel, are nearing completion. The approval of the immersion pontoon is almost two years behind the original schedule.
In the coming weeks, the first part of the tunnel trench will be prepared for immersion. The trench is being adapted to the elements, and the contractor is laying a gravel bed to create an even base for the tunnel elements.
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Originally published on 21 Jan
Read MoreEight Baltic Sea electricity TSOs publish offshore system study to promote coordinated sea basin planning
The electricity Transmission System Operators (TSOs) of eight countries bordering the Baltic Sea today published the first comprehensive regional system study for offshore network infrastructure and offshore wind, marking a significant step toward coordinated sea basin planning in Europe.
The TSOs of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden – organised in the Baltic Offshore Grid Initiative (BOGI) – developed a study that moves from electricity transmission corridors to potential projects for the 2040-time horizon. The results show that the Baltic Sea region can become a clean energy hub, with around 13 GW of new cross-border interconnectors and up to 50 GW of additional offshore wind identified by 2040. These connections include point-to-point links between countries and strategic offshore nodes such as Bornholm, which could serve as future hybrid hubs. The market modelling indicates that these interconnectors would operate with high utilisation throughout the year and significantly reduce system costs, price peaks and CO₂ emissions.
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Originally published on 22 Jan
Read MoreMarket participants are invited to provide feedback on the Nordic–Baltic Hydrogen Corridor project
The implementers of the Nordic–Baltic Hydrogen Corridor project — the European gas transmission system operators “Conexus Baltic Grid” (Latvia), “Gasgrid Finland” (Finland), “Elering” (Estonia), “Amber Grid” (Lithuania), “GAZ‑SYSTEM” (Poland) and “ONTRAS” (Germany) — have launched a market survey, inviting market participants to express their views by completing a questionnaire on the cross‑border hydrogen infrastructure development project.
At this stage, market participants are invited to take part in shaping the development of the cross‑border hydrogen network by providing their perspectives on the creation of the Nordic–Baltic Hydrogen Corridor, which will strengthen Europe’s energy security and support the transition to a climate‑neutral economy.
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Originally published on 16 Jan
Read MoreOstwind 3 grid connection project on the home stretch: Offshore platform precisely installed in the sea off Rügen
The expansion of the grid connection systems for connecting offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea is progressing well. 40 kilometres northeast of the island of Rügen, an important stage in the 50Hertz Ostwind 3 project has now been successfully completed – the installation of the Jasmund offshore platform. It is to collect 300 megawatts from the Windanker wind farm from October, transform it to the voltage level of 220 kilovolts and transmit the electricity via a submarine land cable connection to the new Stilow substation in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, which is still under construction.
Stefan Kapferer, Chairman of the Management Board of 50Hertz: “After Ostwind 1 and 2, Ostwind 3 is the next project in the sea area northeast of Rügen, which we will complete on time and within budget. We are also on track with the next OST-6-1 project with a transmission capacity of 927 MW, which serves to connect the Gennaker wind farm north of the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula. Two offshore platforms are already under construction, the laying of protective pipes has begun, and a new substation near Gnewitz is taking shape. Overall, 50Hertz is making a significant contribution to reliably tapping the great wind energy potential of the Baltic Sea – in German waters, but also beyond in cooperation with Energinet from Denmark and, in the future, with other partners in the Baltic region.”
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Originally published on 12 Jan
Read MoreGennaker offshore wind farm obtains construction and operations permit
Skyborn Renewables’ (Skyborn) permit application for its 976.5 MW Gennaker offshore wind farm, located in the German Baltic Sea and with a commissioning target date of 2028, has been approved on 16 December by the State Office for Agriculture and Environment in Stralsund, Western Pomerania.
The permit was handed-over to Skyborn today in Rostock. This achievement enables Skyborn to proceed to an anticipated Final Investment Decision (FID) in summer 2026, with construction planned to take place over a period of two years and commissioning in 2028.
Once operational, the Gennaker offshore wind farm will add up to 976.5 MW to Germany’s total renewable energy capacity and generate annually green electricity of 4TWh, equal to the annual consumption of approximately one million households.
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Originally published on 19 Dec
Read MoreICEYE and Rheinmetall win major contract worth billions for space reconnaissance
Rheinmetall and ICEYE have received a major order from the German Armed Forces for the space sector. The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has commissioned Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions to supply the German Armed Forces with space-based reconnaissance data via exclusive access to a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation.
To deliver this capability, Rheinmetall has partnered with ICEYE – the world’s leading manufacturer and operator of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites – to establish Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions. Based in Neuss, the joint venture will provide a high volume of SAR images via its exclusive constellation, offering a comprehensive service solution that includes full operations, ground station management, and AI-driven image evaluation. The satellite constellation remains the property of Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions.
The current contract is valued at approximately €1.7 billion gross. Furthermore, an extension option is part of the contract. The space-based reconnaissance data will be used, primarily, to protect the ‘Lithuania Brigade’ and secure NATO’s eastern flank.
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Originally published on 18 Dec
Read MoreRWE to sell Polish offshore wind development project to PGE
RWE has signed an agreement with PGE for the sale of its F.E.W. Baltic II offshore wind development project in the Polish Baltic Sea. The wind farm has a planned capacity of 350 megawatts and will be located approximately 50 kilometres from shore, north of the Polish town of Ustka. The transaction is expected to be closed in the first quarter of 2026. The parties already completed the transfer of an Environmental Decision and related data for the adjacent wind development site 44.E.1. to PGE.
RWE remains fully committed to further support the Polish energy transition by developing, constructing and operating a diverse pipeline of renewable energy projects across Poland. Today, the company already operates onshore wind and solar farms with a combined capacity of more than 660 megawatts in the country.
Sven Utermöhlen, Chief Executive Officer RWE Offshore Wind: “We are convinced that, in synergy with their other portfolio, PGE is better positioned to realise this project than RWE would be on a standalone basis. However, our target to further grow our offshore wind portfolio remains unchanged. We are currently building four large-scale offshore wind farms in four European countries and have several further offshore projects under development.”
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Originally published on 18 Dec
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