Statoil will partner with E.ON as it enters the German offshore wind market with the EUR1.2billion Arkona project.
When operational the Arkona wind farm will provide renewable energy for up to 400,000 households in Germany, making it one of the largest ongoing offshore wind developments in Europe.
Eldar Sætre, Statoil’s chief executive said: “We are pleased to announce our decision to develop this significant offshore wind project together with E.ON.
“This investment is in line with our strategy to gradually complement our oil and gas portfolio with profitable renewable energy and other low-carbon solutions.”
Statoil is the second-largest supplier of natural gas in Germany and has been delivering gas from Norway through three direct pipelines for over 35 years.
The new windfarm adds a new dimension to the Norwegian-German energy partnership said Sætre.
Located in the Baltic Sea, the Arkona wind farm will be located 35 kilometres northeast of the Rügen Island and consist of 60 six-megawatt turbines.
E.ON’s Climate & Renewables chief executive Michael Lewis said: “This project offers ideal conditions for further reducing the costs of offshore wind and will take us a big step toward realizing our goal of making renewables truly competitive.”
Start of electricity production is expected in 2019. Once in service, the wind farm will create up to 50 permanent jobs for highly skilled staff in operations, administration, and maintenance as well as, indirectly, another 100 jobs for external service providers.
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