German Wind Power

           Alpha Ventus - Image via WikipediaBy Mark F Weber

Germany is investing in wind power. The country is not only using wind to generate sustainable electricity, but they are a major supplier to global wind turbine systems. This growth requires considerable investment, but Germans are also making emotional decisions to build wind towers in the scenic areas of their beautiful country.

The weather on the North Sea is volatile with perfect blue days and powerful storms. I used to visit an operation in Kiel, just northeast of Hamburg. Whether the day is brilliant or stormy there is a raw beauty to the shoreline so loved by the local seafarers. To Kiel's west, almost to the Dutch border, the North Sea scenery is changing.

Alpha Ventus is a recently-completed wind farm. 12 turbines are in operation 44 kilometers/27 miles off the coast. The project began in 1999, but it took a decade and roughly 220M euro to complete. The project is intended to not only generate electricity, but also to research the challenges operating deep water turbines just over the horizon.

Alpha Ventus joins over 21,000 other German operational wind turbines. Between 2000 and 2009 Germany grew from 6,000 megawatts of wind generated electricity to nearly 26,000 megawatts. This drives 6.5% of the country's electricity.

Wind turbine is a growing German industry that employs nearly 100,000 workers. Germans excel at designing and producing precise and reliable complex equipment. According to the German Wind Energy Association, (BWE),German manufacturers and suppliers captured over a third of the 22 billion euro global wind turbine investment in 2009.

Like most countries, finding the right balance between the economics and sustainability is a not easy for Germany. Alpha Ventus demonstrates they are prepared to make the investment. The challenge is how a country with so much passion for natural beauty can share a horizon with a giant spinning monster. Today, powerful North Sea winds push sailboats by deep water wind turbines. We hope for smooth sailing for both.

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