Germany: Trianel Offshore Wind Farm Borkum in operation

The Trianel Offshore Wind Farm Borkum has started to produce electricity. “Approximately one year after the installation was finished, all 40 turbines are connected to the grid and produce power”, tells Klaus Horstick, Managing Director of Trianel wind farm Borkum GmbH. The first offshore wind farm run solely by municipal utilities and regional suppliers from Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland and Trianel, with 40 wind turbines and an output of 200 MW, is located 45 kilometers off the coast of the North Sea island of Borkum.

The construction of the wind farm was launched in September 2011 with the establishment of the tripod foundations in the North Sea. “Back then, we were breaking new ground and are now proud to have completed this pioneering project together with our partners, suppliers and employees”, said Horstick.

Problems occurred during the grid connection. The transmission system operator had to postpone the grid connection repeatedly, thus messing up the planned construction schedule. “We are now in trial operation with the successful commissioning of the final system. In August, the plants will be transferred to regular operation”, said Horstick. During the trial operation technical details are checked and tested for all phases of operation of the AREVA Wind M5000 turbines.