One year ago the last of the twelve turbines of alpha ventus was assembled – completing Germany’s first offshore wind farm. Since the gradual commissioning of the turbines, the offshore test field has fed some 170 gigawatt hours of climate friendly power into the national power grid and has already achieved an balanced EROEI (Energy Return on Energy Invested).

This pioneering project provides not only its operators EWE, E.ON and Vattenfall, but also the entire start-up Offshore Wind Energy industry with fundamental experience in the construction and operation of additional offshore wind farms planned for the North and Baltic Seas. According to plans by the German Federal Government, 10,000 megawatts of offshore wind power are to be installed by 2020, contributing to the supply of climate friendly energy in Germany. More obvious efforts and incentives are still needed to bring about this further expansion.