The data was compiled by a group of five German wind energy organisations; AGOW (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Offshore Windenergie); BWE (Bundesverband Windenergie); Stiftung Offshore Windenergie; VDMA Power Systems; and WAB Windenergieagentur.
Germany's newly added capacity in 2016 — all located in the North Sea — was just over a third of the 2,262MW (546 turbines) connected to the network in the previous year, with the fleet standing at 3,295MW at the end of 2015.
The turbine additions in 2016 resulted in offshore wind generation increasing by 57% to 13TWh, up from 8.3TWh in 2015.
Among the projects to begin exporting power to Germany's grid in 2016 include Dong Energy's Gode Wind 2, Vattenfall's 288MW Sandbank site and the 402MW Veja Mate development.
Another 21 turbines, totalling 123MW, were completely installed in 2016 but not connected to the grid until 2017.
Map by Stiftung Offshore-Windenergie. Click to enlarge.
During the whole of 2017, about 1.4GW is expected to be commissioned, followed by about 1GW per year in both 2018 and 2019, the organisations' said.
Another 21 turbines with 123MW were completely installed in 2016 but not connected to the grid until 2017.
During the whole of 2017, about 1.4GW is expected to be commissioned, followed by about 1GW per year in both 2018 and 2019, the organisations' said.
This will be double the annual growth due in 2021 and 2022 when expansion is capped to 500MW per year, they noted.
