In 2010, E.ON invested more than €1 billion in renewables and expanded its wind and solar capacity by 600 MW to over 3,600 MW. E.ON now plans to invest €2.6 billion more for the period 2011-2013.
E.ON is expanding both its wind and solar capacity in Europe, where its biggest projects are two offshore wind farms. The first, London Array—which it is building with partners DONG Energy and Masdar—is already under construction and will have 1,000 MW of capacity, making it the world’s largest wind farm when fully completed.
The second, Amrumbank West, is in planning and will have around 300 MW of capacity. It will be E.ON’s second far shore, deep water wind farm in German waters after alpha ventus. E.ON is developing three other offshore wind projects in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea with a total capacity of more than 1,000 MW.
Last week, E.ON installed and successfully tested the first of 94 turbines of Settlers Trail wind farm in Illinois (US). Settlers Trail will be the fourteenth wind farm E.ON has built in the United States in just three years. With 150 MW of capacity, it will be able to supply more than 45,000 households with clean electricity. When completed Settlers Trail will take E.ON’s a total installed wind capacity in North America over 2,000 MW strengthening the company’s position as one of the continent’s wind-power leaders.
Elsewhere, E.ON’s first concentrated solar power plants—a 100-MW facility in Écija, Spain—is nearing completion. The plant is a joint venture with Spain’s Abengoa Solar, a specialist in solar power.
Nuclear moratorium: a milestone?
Meanwhile, E.ON is suspending the operation of its oldest nuclear power station Isar-1 for the duration of the German government’s moratorium on nuclear power. Preparations have already been started to take the reactor into a safe non-operational condition in agreement with the relevant authorities.
E.ON regards this as a contribution to a more objective debate on nuclear energy. "Even though the nuclear power station Isar-1is not directly affected by the moratorium at the current time, we have decided to suspend the operation of E.ON’s oldest reactor for the duration of the moratorium. We want to make it easier, not least for the relevant Bavarian supervisory authorities, to perform an open and critical assessment," said E.ON CEO Johannes Teyssen. He added that there were no new safety assessments leading to the reactor being put in a standstill condition. Isar-1 fully complies with all high security standards.
"We understand the German public’s concern and the political debate on the developments in Japan," Mr. Teyssen said. "At present there are no doubts at all about the comprehensive safety of our nuclear plants, including Isar-1. But we will participate actively in the necessary analysis and discussion of the lessons taught by, and conclusions to be drawn from, the events in Japan," Mr. Teyssen stated.
He viewed the moratorium proposed by Chancellor Merkel and the establishment of an expert panel as the right way to analyse the situation and discuss the consequences with due care and speed. "We will fully support these investigations with our nuclear knowhow and our wide-ranging operating experience," Mr. Teyssen added.
News of E.ON strengthening its commitment to renewable energy and the suspension of some of its nuclear operations may signal a shift in its strategy. Back in 2009, E.ON and EDF of France, two of the most high-profile nuclear supporters, told the UK government for example that it had to essentially choose between new nuclear and major renewables developments. However, the events in Japan may have shifted E.ON’s stance in this regard, especially since Germany’s Chancellor Merkel told the German parliament in March after events in Japan lead to the moritorium in her country that nuclear should be regarded as a bridging technology that will only be used while the country builds up sufficient renewable energy capacity.
"We will use the moratorium period, which we deliberately set to be short and ambitious, to drive the change in energy policy and accelerate it wherever possible, as we want to reach the age of renewable energy as quickly as possible," she said.
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