Germany: First GICON®-SOF offshore foundation granted feed-in of generated electricity

The first GICON Floating Offshore Foundation (GICON®-SOF), currently being manufactured, has received permission to feed the electricity produced, a rated output of 2,300 kW, into the transmission grid. On 3 November 2015, Edelstahl und Umwelttechnik Stralsund GmbH (ESG), a member of the GICON Group, was able to secure the necessary claim to connection capacities as part of a bidding process with the German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur). Thus, the SOF can be connected to the 50Hertz Transmission GmbH grid within the next 36 months.

The bidding process was necessary because the approved bidders had applied for a total of 258.3 MW connection capacity, but only 211.1 MW were available. In addition to ESG, five other bidders were present at the live auction in Bonn. A right to allocation was awarded to the highest bidder, whereby the lowest bid, which is operated in full, was crucial for all higher bids. Ein Anspruch auf Zuweisung wurde meistbietend vergeben, wobei das niedrigste Gebot, welches in voller Höhe bedient wird, preisgebend für alle höheren Gebote war One of the prerequisites for admission to the bidding process was an authorization under the German Federal Pollution Control Act (BImSchG) and proof of a seabed investigation, as required by the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency.

ESG CEO Burkhard Schuldt is convinced, "The allocation is a further milestone in the fulfillment of our R&D project. With the installation of GICON®-SOF in 2016, the first wind power plant with a floating foundation will be put into operation as part of a commercial wind farm".

The project has been funded by the Ministry of Economy, Construction and Tourism of the German State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with additional funding from the European Fund for Regional Development (ERDF) for the 2007-2013 funding period (Grant No. V-630-1-260-2012/103). With this assistance, the manufacture, installation and testing of the first floating wind turbine in Germany is being proportionately funded.