Located 45 kilometers off the island of Borkum, Alpha Ventus was a pioneer in offshore wind energy. offshore wind energy in Germany. Now, this industry benchmark becomes the first case in the country to face the challenge of its decommissioning with environmental and scientific research criteria.
Decommissioning of offshore wind farm with environmental focus
The operator consortium, consisting of EWE, RWE and Vattenfall through DOTI, has announced the development of a sustainable decommissioning concept. Close collaboration with the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency seeks to prioritize the protection of the marine ecosystem and the recycling of components as a central part of the plan.
The RAVE initiative, linked to the Fraunhofer Institute IWESplays a key role in the process. Its approach is oriented towards technical and economic analysis of decommissioning, generating information that can be applied to future offshore projects. It will look at everything from logistics management to the booking of specialized vessels and port capacity.
Repowering discarded: structural limitations
Although the option of refurbishing the turbines was considered, site conditions and the requirements of the new models made such a possibility unfeasible. Replacing the foundations would involve a complete rebuild, which has led the consortium to focus its efforts on a planned removal.
Scheduled for closure in four years, Alpha Ventus remains a learning platform. The current process sets a precedent for the European wind power industry, which is beginning to face the end of the life cycle of its first facilities. This example of structured transition may influence future regulations and sustainable decommissioning management models.
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Source: Alpha Ventus
Photo: Shutterstock
