Swiss firm ewz joins Butendiek offshore wind farm project

Switzerland-based Elektrizitätswerk der Stadt Zürich (ewz) has joined the €1.3bn Butendiek offshore wind farm project set to be developed by German wind farm developer and operator wpd.

Other investors in the project include, Marguerite Fund, Siemens Project Ventures (SPV), Industriens Pensionsforsikring (IP), Pensionskassernes Administration (PKA) and CDC Infrastructure (Caisse des Dépôts group).

wpd CEO Dr Gernot Blanke said, "The ewz participation is a further favorable signal for the offshore wind sector in Germany.

"We are glad that ewz shall contribute its know-how as energy supplier and we regard this commitment as a further step in the successful implementation of the wpd project."

The company is responsible for the project management in the construction as well as in the operation phase.

Offshore construction work on the project is set to commence in March 2014 and slated for completion in summer 2015.

The first wind turbine generators are planned for installation in autumn this year, and will be taken into operation successively.

wpd commenced developing the project following the takeover of Butendiek Offshore Windpark Holding from SSE Renewables, in September 2010.

Located 32km west of the island of Sylt in the North Sea area of Germany, the 288MW Butendiek offshore wind farm will comprise 80 three-bladed Siemens wind turbines each having a rated output of 3.6MW. It is expected to cater to about 370,000 households with renewable energy.

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Image: The Butendiek offshore wind farm will comprise 80 three-bladed Siemens wind turbines. Photo: file image.