Ralf Neulinger
Starting signal in the Baltic Sea: EnBW puts Baltic 1 into operation
Baltic 1, Germany's first commercial offshore wind farm, goes online in 2011, marking a turning point in industrial policy. For EnBW, the project marks the entry into a new world. Ralf Neulinger, who is responsible for the Renewable Energy Production division at EnBW, remembers the development under time pressure, the spirit of optimism in the team – and the huge steps the industry has taken since then.
What significance did the successful operation of Baltic 1 have for offshore wind-Mmarket in Germany and for EnBW?
"With Baltic 1, we laid the foundation for commercial offshore wind 15 years ago-Nuse in Germany. Baltic 1 was truly pioneering work in Germany, but also for EnBW, and we were able to demonstrate that offshore wind farms can be operated economically here."
Baltic 1 was Germany's first commercial offshore wind farm and the first in the German Baltic Sea. What were the biggest challenges in realizing thethis projectes?
"At that time we had the task, within one year We set up our own project team. Offshore wind energy was a new field for Germany, and skilled personnel were in high demand. But we made it, and many of our colleagues from back then are still on board, implementing projects of a completely different scale."
Speaking of dimensions – how has offshore wind-Branche developed in the last 15 years?
"It is impressive to see how the industry has developed within 15 years. Baltic's 21 wind turbines 1 have a total capacity of almost 50 MW. Each plantge has 2,3 MW. By today's standards, the BabysToday we realize He Dreiht with 960 MW, Germany's largest offshore wind farm under construction. With a technical world premiereere: For the first time, Vestas' largest wind turbine on the market, 15 MW, will be deployed. A single rotor revolution is sufficient to supply four households with electricity for a day."
What 2011 specifically was important:
- In Germany, offshore wind turbines with an installed capacity of 108,3 MW will be connected to the grid. In addition to the 48,3 MW Baltic 1, individual turbines from the BARD Offshore 1 wind farm will also be connected.
- Total new capacity added to the grid in Europe: 866,35 MW
- Federal government adopts legislative package for energy transition: nuclear phase-out in 2022 and reorientation towards renewable energies
- The loan program “Offshore Wind Energy – Financing Wind Farms in the North and Baltic Seas” of the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) starts with a total loan volume of five billion euros
