The Arkona project is located 35 kilometers northeast of the island of Rügen, Germany. The wind farm has an output of 385 MW and can potentially supply around 400,000 households with renewable energy.
Chancellor Merkel said, “Arkona sets a standard for the transition of the energy system. We will discuss how we achieve the climate goals. It is not sufficient to convert energy production. We see great potential in the heating sector. We are also facing a major change in the transport sector.”
Prime minister of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Manuela Schwesig, added, “Today we are sending out a strong signal: we are making progress with the energy revolution. Offshore wind power is a crucial element here. This is a path with a future. It is a path we are taking together with strong partners like E.ON and Equinor.”
The investment volume amounts to €1.2 billion. Compared to conventionally generated electricity, Arkona saves up to 1.2 million tons of CO2 annually. Sixty turbines of the six-megawatt class from Siemens Gamesa were installed.
The guests of honor put the Arkona offshore wind farm into operation with the support of children from the kindergarten Kunterbunt from Sassnitz.
Photo: In the background from the left: Chairman of the Board of Directors of Equinor, Jan Erik Reinhardsen, Norway's Minister of Energy and Oil, Kjell Borge Freiberg, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, E.ON CEO Johannes Teyssen, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig, Chris Peeters, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of 50 Hertz, Holger Matthiesen, Project Director Arkona.
