From Notrickszone
By P Gosselin
Alpha Ventus Offshore Wind Farm near Borcum on the North Island of Germany will be demolished only after 15 years of operation.
Operations without substantial subsidies have become unprofitable.
Symbol image, generated by Grok 3 AI.
Alpha Ventus is considered the first offshore wind farm in Germany. Construction began in August 2007 and the first turbine was installed in July 2009. The pioneering wind farm was formally commissioned on April 27, 2010.
According to the Blackout News, the decisive factor in the removal of the pioneer project is the expiration of generous subsidies provided by Germany's EEG renewable energy. The subsidy means that the Alpha Ventus Wind Farm will be 15.4 cents per kilowatt-hour after operation. Now that the subsidies are used up, wind farm operators are only receiving basic tariffs of 3.9 cents per kilowatt-hour, making the farm unprofitable.
Another factor: The older Alpha Venus wind farm is eclipsed by more modern, more efficient turbines.
Offshore wind farms are expensive
Overall, offshore wind farms are much more expensive to operate than onshore wind farms due to increased maintenance costs, accessibility, severe environments and the professional equipment and personnel required to carry out operational projects.
Offshore wind farms operate much more expensive than onshore wind farms, due to the combination of its challenging marine environment and multiple factors in remote areas.
Offshore turbines are exposed to corrosive brine, strong winds, large waves and potential storms that can accelerate wear of components. This can lead to more frequent failures and the need for stronger and more expensive materials.
And, when the turbine is broken down at sea, it usually takes much longer to access, diagnose and repair due to weather restrictions and logistical challenges than onshore turbines. This can lead to greater losses in power generation and revenue.
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