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Closer collaboration between 50Hertz and Parkwind on a single offshore platform

published on 02/10/2019

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Memorandum of Understanding signed between TSO and windfarm operator for offshore activities in the Baltic Sea.

50Hertz, the responsible Transmission System Operator (TSO) for connecting the offshore wind farms in the German Baltic Sea, and Parkwind the Arcadis Ost 1 Belgian offshore developer, have successfully reached the next level of collaboration. Already at a very early stage, close coordination between both parties continues as they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that sets the framework for successful collaboration and coordination on technical and schedule topics for today and beyond.

The essential aspects of the MoU include specific agreements for the development, procurement, construction and operation of the joint shared offshore platform covering basic technical details and principles for the division of the construction costs. The shared platform will connect the Arcadis Ost 1 offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea with the German transmission grid.

Additionally, the parties align on further aspects such as their respective programmes and the future agreements to be entered into in the interest of the joint offshore platform. This single platform is explicitly foreseen as a part of the official grid development plan (Bundesfachplan Offshore) and is to be used by both the windfarm operator and the TSO. Dr. Henrich Quick, head of offshore projects at 50Hertz, appreciates the added value of this concept: “On the one hand costs are reduced and on the other hand we need less space which helps us to even more reduce the environmental impacts during construction, operation and dismantling.”

Clement Helbig de Balzac, the Arcadis Ost 1 project manager added: “A strong relationship with the grid operator is of key strategic value for the successful development of an offshore project. The partnership with 50 Hertz gives us the confidence that Arcadis Ost 1 will meet its project timeline.”

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About 50Hertz
50Hertz operates the electricity transmission system in the north and east of Germany, which it expands as needed for the energy transition. Our extra high voltage grid has an electrical circuit length of about 10,200 kilometres, or the distance between Berlin and Rio de Janeiro. The 50Hertz control area covers the Länder of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, as well as the city states of Berlin and Hamburg. Within these regions, 50Hertz and its 1,100 employees ensure that 18 million people are supplied with electricity around the clock. 50Hertz is a forerunner in the field of secure integration of renewable energy: in our grid area, more than half of the electricity consumed is already generated from renewable sources, and the trend is rising. The shareholders of 50Hertz are the Belgian transmission system operator Elia (80 per cent) and the KfW bank group with 20 per cent. As a European transmission system operator, 50Hertz is part of the Elia Group and a member of the European association ENTSO-E. www.50hertz.com

About Ostwind 2
Ostwind 2 is the 50Hertz project to connect the Baltic Sea wind farms Arcadis Ost 1 and Baltic Eagle to the German high voltage grid. Arcadis Ost 1, the wind farm of the Belgian company Parkwind, is located in the cluster West. The connection to the German extra-high voltage grid takes place at the grid connection point in the Lubmin substation (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania).

About Arcadis Ost 1
The Arcadis Ost 1 wind farm has a capacity of about 247 MW and is located in the Baltic Sea, northeast of the island of Rügen, within the 12-nautical mile zone of the Federal State Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. In April 2018, Parkwind was successful in the offshore wind auction in Germany, launched by the Federal Grid Agency.

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Maarten van der Horst

Project Director Oriel

Maarten joined Parkwind and more specifically the Oriel project team in early 2021. He brings 17 years of experience in the energy industry having worked at Engie's renewables arm first as an engineer, later as offshore specialist.

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Wim Verrept

Risk, QHSSE, IT & Process Manager

He joined Parkwind in 2016 as risk manager, during the installation phase of Nobelwind. Since then his responsibilities have expanded to include IT and the QHSSE department. Before joining the company, he worked as a risk manager at large financial institution in Belgium.
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Ingrid Dony

HR Manager

Ingrid joined Parkwind in 2013 and manages the Human Resources department. Her expertise in corporate HR has created the foundations in Parkwind’s evolving and rapidly growing employee and consultant base. Her team manages everything from payroll to employee development and communications. She has been instrumental in preparing the organization for international expansion and the digitalization of numerous HR legal and administrative tools.

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Dirk Dewettinck

Head of R&D

At Parkwind since 2015 he manages the engineering resources involved in project development, design and construction. He was closely involved in the technical management of the Nobelwind and Northwester 2 projects. Prior to joining Parkwind, he was involved in other offshore wind projects, working for a major wind turbine supplier, and prior to that he worked for more than 15 years with major engineering contractors in projects around the world, mainly in the conventional power generation construction and services (steam, gas, nuclear).
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Clément Helbig de Balzac

Project Manager of Arcadis

Joining Parkwind in 2011 as a project finance specialist and he was heavily involved in the financing and construction of Northwind and Nobelwind. Thereafter, as project finance manager, he led the financing process of Northwester 2 and the refinancing of three operational offshore wind farms of the Parkwind portfolio. He is also involved in business development projects for his expertise lies in financing processes, construction contract negotiation, contracting strategy and development and construction management.
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Edward Van Melkebeek

Head of Technology

Since joining Parkwind in 2018, he has been leading the Technology team responsible for leveraging Parkwind’s know-how in civil, electrical and WTG packages to development of new projects. The team also performs a supply chain role, managing technical aspects of project contracts. Previously, he has built extensive practical and managerial experience in the offshore construction business for over 22 years at a global leading dredging and offshore contractor strongly active in the offshore wind industry.
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Mathias Van Steenwinkel

Business Development Manager

He joined Parkwind in 2012 working on financial modelling, PPA negotiations and the overall financial close processes. Since 2016, he is heading the growing business development department playing a key role in the identification of new projects, global partnerships and tender preparations.
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Kristof Verlinden

O&M Manager

With Parkwind since 2010, he is responsible for the asset management and production management of all of Parkwind’s offshore operational assets. The O&M organization plays a pivotal role in project development incorporating strategic insight to ensure frictionless O&M operations from the moment of first production. The team also supplies external support services, is involved in numerous R&D initiatives with universities and wind farm performance analysis using state of the art data systems. Kristof joined Parkwind with an engineering background in international service support business and wind turbine driveline design validation.
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Pieter Marinus

General Counsel and Investment Relations Director

As a former Parkwind board member, he has been involved in the financial close and follow-up of every Parkwind project as well as in their acquisition and divestment processes. Prior to joining Parkwind’s management in 2017, he was also in charge of multiple other renewable energy investments and financings around Europe, notably as Investment Director at Korys, Parkwind’s controlling shareholder.
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Peter Caluwaerts

Project Director

After years of building extensive experience in large construction works, he started his career in offshore wind in 2010 by taking up the role of CLO of Parkwind, responsible for regulatory, legal and contracting matters for Belwind and Northwind windfarms. Since then, as Project Director, he’s led the Northwester 2 project completed in 2020 and is now responsible for Parkwind’s Irish projects Oriel and Clogherhead. He plays an instrumental role in organizing Parkwind’s international expansion and growth.
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Eric Antoons

co-CEO

Before joining the company in 2013, he worked for one of the largest power and gas suppliers in Belgium, in both operational and executive functions. Joining Parkwind in 2013 as COO, he supervised the construction of three wind farm projects and the considerable growth of O&M activities. Since becoming co-CEO in 2016, he has also developed Parkwind’s R&D activities to the forefront partnering with universities and several technology start-ups.
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Francois Van Leeuw

co-CEO

He joined the nascent Parkwind as a CFO in 2009 and has been leading the financing and development of the four Belgian wind farms Belwind, Northwind, Nobelwind and Northwester 2. In his role he’s particularly involved in new business and partnership development for Parkwind globally. He is also serving as the chairman of the Belgian Offshore Platform, the non-profit association of investors and owners of Belgian wind farms.