Offshore Alpha-Ventus Wind Farm

Alpha Ventus lies approx. 45 km north of the island of Borkum outside the 12-mile zone within the exclusive economic zone of the Federal Republic of Germany. ZINKPOWER Neumünster provided the corrosion protection for the steel construction of the nacelle on Germany’s first offshore wind farm, Alpha Ventus. The inside supports were hot-dip galvanized, the exterior supports, galvanized and given four coats.

The units are designed for a minimum operational life of 20 years. Reliable corrosion protection and careful housing of the plant and machinery is crucial for the wind farm’s successful operation.

The important electrical control and auxiliary systems of any wind turbine are redundant and therefore available in abundance. It can also continue generating power if individual components fail.

Why a wind park in the middle of the sea? The wind is more constant at sea than on land with on average considerably higher wind speeds: whereas around 2,200 to 2,500 full operating hours can be expected on a good site on land, this equates to 3,800 at sea. It is also possible to build larger units at sea and they scarcely trouble people, unlike onshore turbines. The Alpha Ventus offshore turbines are not even visible from the beach in Borkum. Generally wind parks are not visible further than a distance of 45 kilometres due to the curvature of the earth

© Foto: Areva Multibrid/Jan Oelker