2nd Scientific Conference on the Use of Offshore Wind Energy

The German government is striving to significantly increase the amount of renewable energy in Germany's total energy supply. On the one hand renewable energies shall contribute to Germany's goals of climate protection. On the other hand the use of renewable energies can gradually reduce the dependency on expensive and limited fossil fuel resources. Of all renewable energies, wind energy has the biggest potential for intermediate-term development. The use of wind energy is increasing at an exponential rate worldwide.

Germany is leading the way in the use of wind energy, currently satisfying about five percent of its power consumption demands with wind energy. The construction of several offshore wind farms in 2006 has generated a greater dynamic for the use of offshore wind energy throughout Europe. Germany has made a great contribution towards this recent trend. The first 5-Megawatt wind energy plants that can be used offshore have been developed in Germany. The German offshore wind energy test site located in the North Sea (Borkum West) will start operations in 2008. It will be used for the first testing of the operation of twelve 5-Megawatt wind energy plants in deep waters and at a great distance from the coast. Moreover, permits for 15 other pilot projects have been granted and especially suitable areas for the use of wind energy have been designated in areas of the North and Baltic Seas.

Through the promotion of research and development projects, the Federal Ministry of the Environment contributes to the expansion of wind energy. Important objectives include the gradual reduction of costs for the production of wind power, and sustaining Germany's competitive position in the wind industry. Furthermore, the expansion of offshore wind energy is to be carried out in a manner compatible to nature and the environment. The accompanying ecological research analyses the influences of offshore wind farms on the marine environment in interdisciplinary and cross-border projects. It promotes the development of adequate strategies for the avoidance or mitigation of environmental impacts. With the construction and operation of research platforms in the North and Baltic Seas, a solid pool of information will be created for the future expansion of offshore wind energy as well as the design of power plants and foundations suitable for use in the ocean.

At the „1^st Scientific Conference on the use of Offshore Wind Energy" in 2004, the Federal Ministry of the Environment presented results of sponsored projects dating back to 2001.

The "2^nd Scientific Conference on the Use of Offshore Wind Energy" took place on the 20^th and 21^st of February 2007 in Berlin. The Technical University was commissioned to organize and administrate the conference.
Scientists presented their latest project results. Natural conditions in marine ecosystems have been described as they relate to wind energy use. Furthermore, new technical methods were demonstrated to identify environmental impacts. New ideas were presented on how to implement the use of offshore wind energy in an environmentally compatible manner. The presentations showed an enormous progress of relevant knowledge.

The conference also introduced the possible focus on developing competent networks within the scope of the operation of the wind energy test site Borkum West. Questions dealing with wind performance of power plants, grid properties of wind farms, optimisation of wing units, monitoring and machine maintenance will be addressed. Furthermore, the conference showed developments on the use of offshore wind energy in neighbouring countries.
Proposals from the presentations and results from the discussions may influence further research as well as research politics, and it could potentially have an influence on the development of the political framework for the use of offshore wind energy.

Results of the conference have been taken into consideration in a "EU Policy Workshop on Offshore Wind Power Deployment" for advancement of the framework for the use of offshore wind energy in Europe. This workshop took place directly after the scientific conference.

Around 200 international audience of researchers and representatives of the wind industry, politics, non-governmental organizations and governmental administrations from 12 countries have been visiting the conference. The conference proceedings are in preparation and will be ready for download in the next weeks (end of August / beginning of September).