Introduction

Abstract

Presently, we are living in an era of a turnaround in energy policy with strong interests in renewable energies, focusing on wind energy. Increased incident issues on living conditions based on climate change, on one hand, and the fear of nuclear power hazards, on the other hand, bearing problems of nuclear waste and common protests again nuclear energy, result in intense political discussions on applying renewable energies as main energy source. Especially German official heralds the energy turnaround in 2010. On September 28, 2010, the German Federal Cabinet enacted the so-called, in German, Energiekonzept (translation: energy concept). In this concept, the Federal Government postulates the aim to form Germany as one of the most energy-efficient and most environmentally friendly national economy in the near future by offering competitive energy prices and conserving the high-prosperity level of Germany. The aims of this procedure are the phaseout of nuclear energy and the reduction of greenhouse gases by 40 % till 2020 and about 80 % till 2050 (BMWi and BMU 2012). At this juncture, renewable energies, notably wind energy, play an important role in reaching such aims. The percentage of renewable energy electricity generation on gross electricity consumption shall add up to 50 % in 2030 and 80 % in 2050 (BMWi and BMU 2012), whereas the German Federal Government highlights the importance of offshore wind energy as a major element for an environmentally friendly, reliable, and affordable energy supply (BMWi and BMU 2012). Additional offshore is favored due to geographical usable areas, a higher reliability due to consequent high wind speeds over ocean supported by less friction than for onshore structures, and even less political opposition of the population by avoiding the so-called Nimby-Effect, an effect describing shadow and noise disruption realizing health effects for humans. Taking for granted these facts, Germany commands a huge area in the North and Baltic Seas. Accordingly, the development goal of offshore energy is ambitious—a minimum of 25 GW of offshore energy supply till 2030 in the North and Baltic Seas, which accords 15 % of Germany’s total energy demand. Based on year 2012, counting an energy demand of around 617.6 TWh, partitioned in 19.1 % stone coal, 25.7 % brown coal, 11.3 % natural gas, 5.7 % mineral oil and others, 22 % renewable energy (wind, biomass, water, photovoltaic, biogenic garbage), and 16.1 % nuclear energy (BMWi and BMU 2012), offshore wind energy can be a replacement for nuclear energy.