1999: Offshore wind power projects launched

In 1999, PNE turned its attention to offshore wind power projects for the first time, blazing a trail in Germany. “There was nothing comparable in Germany when we started in 1999. There were no documents or approval guidelines,” recalled Thorsten Fastenau, Head of Offshore Wind Project Development. The fundamental questions – such as the permissible size of an offshore wind farm or the requirements with regard to environmental concerns and shipping interests – were still unanswered at the time. “We firstly had to work all of this out with the licensing authorities,” said Fastenau.  

One of the first major projects was Borkum Riffgrund offshore wind farm. Following intensive preparatory work and extensive environmental studies, the building application for the pilot phase was submitted to the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) in Hamburg. From the very beginning, care was taken to minimise conflicts of use with ecology, maritime shipping, fisheries and other maritime interests, thereby reducing risks at an early stage and enabling everyone involved to focus on the technical challenges.  

In 2001 and 2002, PNE established the fundamental basis for the permit application covering the extended pilot phase with 77 wind turbines, which was submitted to the BSH in December. The experience gained from onshore project planning proved to be an invaluable source of reference for the complex requirements in the offshore area and played a key role in making the development a success.  From 2003, the project was developed in a 50:50 joint venture with the Danish energy supply company Energi E2, later DONG Energy Power. The BSH issued the permit in February 2004.