Essent Wind and E.ON commence first offshore facility

In addition to the installation of the first offshore wind energy turbines, two more facilities have entered into operation on the Cuxhaven test site. One of these two Multimegawatt facilities is operated by Essent Wind GmbH in conjunction with E.ON Energy Projects GmbH. The first kilowatt hours were fed into the grid immediately following the start-up of trial operation.

The new infrastructure regulations passed by the Bundestag a few weeks ago removed significant obstacles in the way of the expansion of wind energy plants in the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Amongst other points, it was specified that the costs for connecting offshore facilities are to be borne by the grid companies. This has paved the way for an expansion in German offshore parks.

With three rotor blades over 60 m in length, the 5 MW unit from the German manufacturer REpower Systems will generate an annual average of over 15 m kWh of electricity. This corresponds to the average consumption of over 4000 four-person households.

"Now that the first testfacilities are on the grid we can collate important data regarding the performance, durability and reliability of offshore facilities", explained Sandra Wiedmer of Essent Wind Deutschland GmbH in Hannover. "The findings will be an important aid for us in our further planning." In the next five years Deutsche Essent plans to establish a wind park with 80 similar units in the North Sea.

Deutsche Essent GmbH
Deutsche Essent GmbH, Düsseldorf, has been operating since 2000 as a holding company for the German companies associated with the largest energy supplier in the Netherlands, Essent N.V., Arnhem. It follows a long-term growth strategy and has a 51-percent share in swb AG, Bremen. Through swb AG, the company also has shares in suppliers in Bremerhaven, Bielefeld, Gütersloh, Soltau, Greifswald, and Ahlen. Deutsche Essent GmbH has also majority stake in KOM-STROM AG in Leipzig, through which it is further expanding its operations in the electricity sector. Deutsche Essent is also active in the natural gas market and is consolidating this business segment via novogate GmbH. novogate is a joint subsidiary of Deutsche Essent and Bayerngas GmbH. Deutsche Essent continues to maintain a gas reservoir in Epe. Deutsche Essent GmbH is responsible for wind energy operations for the complete group. With an installed load of about 480 MW, it is one of the leading wind energy operators in northwest Europe.

Düsseldorf, 11 January 2007


Contact
Please contact the following with enquiries:

Eva Wagner
Manager Communication
Deutsche Essent GmbH
Roßstraße 92
40476 Düsseldorf
Telephone 0049-211 60129-165
Fax 0049-211 60129-100
E-mail: presse@essent.de

Published: 11 January 2007