Dong Energy exports first power from Borkum Riffgrund 1 offshore wind project in Germany

Dong Energy has initiated power supply to the German national grid for the first time from the 312MW Borkum Riffgrund 1 wind project in the North Sea.

78 of Siemens SWT-4.0-130 turbine models are to be installed at the offshore facility, which are expected to be commissioned within 2015.

Once operational, the 312MW project will be able to meet energy requirements of 320,000 German households.

The Borkum Riffgrund 1 facility is located at 54km distance from the German coast and is 37km away to the north of Borkum island. Construction work for the offshore project was initiated in August 2013.

The Danish utility DONG Energy owns a 50% stake in the joint venture project with Kirkbi and William Demant having 32% and 18% interest respectively.

Lego Group president and chief executive officer Jørgen Vig Knudstorp said: "It’s an important milestone that the Borkum Riffgrund 1 wind farm has delivered its first electricity, as this wind farm will help us reach our goal of being based 100 percent on renewable energy by 2020."

Lego is the parent firm for Kirkbi.

Dong Energy managing director in Germany Trine Borum Bojsen said: "Borkum Riffgrund 1 is our first German wind farm and we’re more than happy, that we’ve started to deliver CO2-free power to the German grid."