Important step for the Bremen-based project developer in the realisation of its Scottish project pipeline
Bremen, 29 August 2018. The Bremen-based Energiekontor AG has obtained the first planning permission for a major wind project in Scotland, thus reaching an important milestone in the realisation of its project pipeline. The permission was granted for 12 wind turbines with total heights of between 130 and 150 metres. The planned wind farm has a capacity of up to 48 MW and is scheduled for construction in 2019. Energiekontor is engaged in advanced negotiations with a major international company as a potential partner for a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA). Like the Withernwick II wind farm, which is already under construction in England, the new wind farm in Scotland is to be realised without state subsidies.
Peter Szabo, CEO of Energiekontor AG, is pleased: “After having initiated construction of the first subsidy-free wind farm in the UK, Withernwick II, this is an important step towards the gradual implementation of our Scottish pipeline in the coming years. We would like to congratulate our team in the UK on this remarkable success.”
He adds: “Energiekontor has built up a significant project pipeline in Scotland over the past few years, where the conditions for developing wind farms are extremely good. The projects are large in size, and the wind speeds here at altitudes of 80 to 100 metres above ground level are speeds that are otherwise only found offshore. The planned PPAs form the economic basis for setting up wind farms in Scotland. This will help us to do without state subsidies, and will further strengthen Scotland as our second regional pillar in addition to the German market. Further markets are the Netherlands, France and the US, as well as the expansion of our solar business. Here, too, our medium-term goal is to reduce the costs of generating power with wind farms and solar parks to such an extent that we will be below the levelized cost of electricity of coal-fired and nuclear power plants. This is our contribution to the vision of covering 100 percent of all energy needs from renewable sources.”
About Energiekontor AG:
For the last 25 years, Energiekontor has stood for a sound approach to business and a wealth of experience in wind power. Formed in Bremerhaven in 1990, the company was one of the pioneers in the industry and is now one of the leading German project developers. Its core business covers planning, construction and operational management of wind farms in Germany and abroad, and was expanded to include solar power in 2010. Energiekontor also currently owns and operates 34 wind farms and one solar park with total rated power of around 270 megawatts. Energiekontor AG now also intends to be a pioneer when it comes to economic viability in realising the first wind farms and solar parks at market prices without state subsidies in all target markets as quickly as possible.
In addition to its headquarters in Bremen, Energiekontor also maintains offices in Bremerhaven, Hagen im Bremischen, Aachen, Dortmund, Bernau (near Berlin) and Potsdam. The company also has branch offices in England (Leeds), Scotland (Glasgow), Portugal (Lisbon), the Netherlands (Nijmegen), the US (Austin/Texas and Rapid City/South Dakota) and France (Toulouse). The formation of an additional office in France is currently in the making.
Our track record speaks for itself: We have realised 118 wind farms with total rated power of around 940 megawatts and three solar parks with total rated power of about 30 megawatts. This corresponds to an investment volume of more than EUR 1.6 billion.
Energiekontor went public on 25 May 2000. The shares of Energiekontor AG (WKN 531350/ISIN DE0005313506) are listed in the General Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and can be traded on all German stock exchanges.