First power at German offshore wind farm

A major milestone has been achieved: With the initial batch, power from the first turbine is now being exported to the national grid.

First CO2-free power to the German grid

Trine Borum Bojsen, Managing Director of DONG Energy in Germany and responsible for Wind Power, 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. Once commissioned, the wind farm will supply the annual demand of 320,000 households per year.”

Borkum Riffgrund 1 is a joint venture project between DONG Energy which owns 50 per cent, and the partners KIRKBI A/S and William Demant Invest A/S which together own 50 per cent.

We want to make a difference

Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, President and Chief Executive Officer of the LEGO Group said: ”We want to make a positive impact on the world that all children will inherit. We do so primarily through our play materials and their contribution to children's learning and development. We also have an impact by acting as a responsible company, where our ambitious environmental agenda plays a significant role."

Knudstorp continued: "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.”

Niels Jacobsen, President and Chief Executive Officer of William Demant Holding said: “We’re a global leader within hearing health care and through our solutions we make a life-changing difference to millions of people across the world. Therefore, it’s only natural for us to assume our share of responsibility for solving the energy challenges of the future. And we’re very pleased in knowing that our share of the wind farm will produce far more power than our total global energy consumption.”

Now we will finalise the project

John Hill, Program Director of Borkum Riffgrund 1 said: “The construction and good progress up to first power has been achieved thanks to a huge effort from the entire team and our contractors. Over the next months we will finalise the installation of all 78 turbines."

Once all 78 turbines are in place, expected in 2015, the wind farm will be capable of generating up to 312 megawatts (MW) of green electricity.