The expansion of offshore wind energy in Germany has taken a great step forward: the grand coalition is expected to adopt the so-called Infrastructure Act on Friday 27 October.
Among other things, it is supposed to obligate energy companies to assume the costs for connecting offshore wind energy to the power grid. This results in a substantial cost relief for the operators of offshore wind energy turbines, as the costs for connecting to the power grid represent a large part of the investments in offshore projects. This shifting of the costs to grid operators is valid for a limited timeframe; construction of offshore turbines must have begun before 31 December 2011. Adoption of this Act will eliminate significant hurdles and the backlog in investments that have existed for years in regard to the expansion of wind energy in the German parts of the North Sea and Baltic Sea. (source REpower).
