Made in Germany | Offshore Energy: Germany Plans Wind Parks on the Open Sea

As more and more windy areas on land fill with rotors to convert wind power to electricity, manufacturers are pushing to move their facilities offshore, where the wind is stronger and steadier. Germany has plans to generate 25000 megawatts of power from offshore wind energy by 2030. That corresponds to 15 percent of electricity use. The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency has given the green light for six wind turbines for commercial use to be built 45 kilometers off the North Sea island of Borkum. The operator will be Alpha Ventus. Ironically, the wind has delayed construction until 2009. But a model plant is being built off the mainland town of Hooksiel. Three pipes, three meters in diameter are being rammed 45 meters deep into the Wadden Sea. Then come the tower, the gondola and the 60 meter long rotor blades. Made in Germany was there to see the giant wind energy plant put together.