Germany’s Green Energy Revolution Faces Risk

German offshore wind revolution faces risk because of delays in connecting the turbines to the grid, reports the National.

E.ON and RWE warned that the power connections would not be ready in time and that the consequences could be disastrous.

Germany may respond by introducing new investors but the problems are bad news for Angela Merkel, who stepped up her plans for a huge expansion of green-power generation last year.

Offshore wind strategy is aiming for 10 000 wind turbines along the German coasts of the North Sea and Baltic with production of 25 000 megawatts, but the actual number of turbines is 27, producing 135 megawatts.

RWE is not so optimistic about achiving this national goal and company is considering lawsuit against Tennet to compensate losses caused by delays.

Tennet already warned German officials that it would not be able to meet production deadlines. The government has not yet decided whether to boost subsidies for offshore wind power, but it may have to. Now it is up to the German government to remove the bottleneck threatening its wind-power plans.

[mappress]

Source: Offshore Wind Staff, March 4, 2012;