Mitglieder des Wind Energy Network e.V.

German voice for offshore wind energy

Stiftung OFFSHORE-WINDENERGIE (SOW), the German Offshore Wind Energy Foundation, was created in 2005 with the support of the German Federal Ministry of Environment. Among the members of the Board of Trustees are those Ministries who are in charge of Wind Energy at federal and (coastal) state level. It is an independent institution which supports the expansion of offshore wind energy (OSW) in Germany. The Foundation initiated Germany’s first offshore wind farm, the test site alpha ventus, and played a pivotal role during realization of the wind farm. The Board of Trustees bundles expertise and various interests and consists of following representatives:

• Public bodies and the relevant ministries at federal and state level
• Trade associations and regional wind energy networks
• Industry, e.g. turbine manufacturers, component suppliers and service providers
• Electricity companies and offshore wind developers
• Banks and insurance companies

The statutory purpose of the Foundation is the promotion of a sustainable and environmentally-friendly energy supply by increased use of OSW. Its key goals and objectives are the following:

• Voice for OSW in Germany
• Communication platform for actors from politics, business and research to exchange knowledge and improve the framework conditions for OSW
• Public relations and mediation activities to overcome obstacles
• Initiate and contribute to technological research and development

SOW has already gained vast experience with EU-funded projects. It has been mainly involved in measures to promote public acceptance, and to exchange expertise and knowledge. It is also involved in other EU-funded programmes, e.g. WINDSPEED and SEANERGY 2020. The Foundation uses the knowledge gained in this and other projects to stimulate political debate on OSW in Germany, e.g. concerning grid connection issues, financial support as well as public awareness among the maritime industry.