Tim Meyerjürgens
The current flows, the system grows
With the successful commissioning of five offshore grid connections, 2015 marks a turning point for the expansion of offshore wind energy in Germany. Tim Meyerjuergens remembers a milestone for the network – and for the industry.
Mr Meyerjuergens2015 was a breakthrough year for TenneT in the offshore sector: Several major grid connections were successfully connected to the grid. What were the most significant milestones for you personally?
"2015 was a year of operational breakthroughs for TenneT: With DolWin1, BorWin2, HelWin1, HelWin2, and SylWin1, we successfully commissioned five offshore grid connections. This brought us over 4.300 MW of transmission capacity in the North Sea – and already met two-thirds of the German government's offshore expansion targets in effect at the time. These projects were technological pioneering work – and at the same time the moment when offshore became visible as infrastructure. This was also a special success for me personally: I helped build the offshore sector from the very beginning and saw how our work had a tangible impact. This was particularly evident in October 2015, when an offshore grid bottleneck occurred for the first time – wind power from offshore could no longer be fully fed into the grid. This demonstrated to us how important a synchronous expansion of the grid and generation is. This system logic continues to shape our thinking to this day."
The path to this point was challenging. What, in your opinion, were the key technical and organizational lessons learned from this phase?
"Our offshore projects were truly pioneering work – both technologically and organizationally. The technical requirements for high-voltage direct current technology at sea remain highly complex to this day: high-voltage direct current technology, platform construction at shipyards, logistics and installation in the narrow weather window of the North Sea, cable laying in the Wadden Sea – much of it was uncharted territory at the time and associated with considerable risks. And: for us, the market for suitable suppliers and partners was very limited from the start.
What we've learned: Technical excellence requires strategic partnerships, clear processes, and planning security. This applies to long-term investments as well as to the development of new technologies and the implementation of complex projects. We have continuously built up this expertise with our partners. Today, Europe is a leader in offshore power electronics – a clear competitive and locational advantage."
Today, offshore wind is a central pillar of the European energy transition. How did this image change succeed – and what technological and political changes have occurred since then?
"Offshore wind was long considered expensive and technically risky. This has fundamentally changed – thanks to experience, reliability, and progress. Today, we have a mature infrastructure with high availability and established standards. The initial 400 MW platform evolved into the 900 MW standard and now the TenneT 2 GW program – more efficient, more powerful, and scalable. And the solutions are continuing: We are currently developing multi-terminal hubs for connecting the direct current lines from offshore to onshore. We are working with the North Sea states on the so-called DC Overlay Grid – a cross-border offshore power grid. A lot has also happened politically: In 2015, the G7 Energy Ministers brought prominent political figures to our platforms for the first time – a visible sign that offshore was moving up the agenda. Today, offshore is thought of across borders – as a European infrastructure project and a central component of European energy and industrial policy."
What was also important in 2015:
- 2373 MW newly connected in Germany: 302 MW Amrumbank West, 288 MW Baltic 2, 312 MW Borkum Riffgrund 1, 288 MW Butendiek, 288 MW DanTysk, 400 MW Global Tech I, 295 MW Nordsee Ost, 200 MW Trianel Windpark Borkum
- 3018,5 MW of new offshore wind energy capacity was brought online in Europe in 2015, an increase of 108,3% compared to 2014
- Extension of the EnWG: Offshore liability levy for the expansion of offshore wind energy
