Bremen, 14 May 2019 — On the 15th anniversary of the WINDFORCE Conference, the national and international offshore industry will meet in Bremerhaven on 21 and 22 May to discuss future-oriented energy topics. The fact that the Federal Minister of Economics and Energy Peter Altmaier is sending Ministry Director Dr Urban Rid to Bremerhaven underlines the increased importance of the conference.
At today's Press Conference for the WINDFORCE Conference 2019, Bremen's Senator for Environment, Construction and Transport, Dr Joachim Lohse, emphasized the special radiance of the event: "From the very beginning, the WINDFORCE Conference has dealt with the most important topics of the industry, answered the most urgent questions and provided strong impulses for the sector. As one of the first conferences to deal with the subject of offshore wind, an outstanding pioneering work has been done here."
WAB Managing Director Andreas Wellbrock adds: "In view of the 11th National Maritime Conference in Friedrichshafen, which will take place on 22 and 23 May, we would like to make important contributions to the debate this year with the WINDFORCE Conference and set valuable impulses from Bremerhaven."
This year's conference will offer several highlights: For the first time, there will be a partner country, the Netherlands, which will set its own accents with top-class speakers and participants. In addition, the sessions and discussions will focus on forward-looking topics such as the wind energy-based production of hydrogen. Besides, a session will report on the world's first introduction of a hydrogen fuel cell train, which commutes daily between Cuxhaven via Bremerhaven to Buxtehude.
Irina Lucke, WAB Chairwoman of the Board, highlights the political message of the WINDFORCE Conference 2019: "The expansion of offshore wind energy must be increased to at least 35 gigawatts (GW) by 2035. We will address this demand from the North Sea coast to the political representatives in Friedrichshafen."
Andreas Wellbrock adds: "If other sectors in Germany are electrified, we will need much more electricity in the future. So, politicians must now courageously think ahead regarding the energy system transformation and finally develop a strategy that takes a holistic approach. Offshore Wind must be the foundation of this strategy."
The WINDFORCE Conference has been one of the leading offshore wind energy events in Germany for fifteen years and attracts start-ups, companies and industrial groups to the North Sea coast every year. It is also known as the "Family Reunion of the German Offshore Industry". On the first conference evening, the traditional WINDFORCE Dinner will be held, which will take place on the ship "Fair Lady" this year. The Conference is sponsored by: EWE, TenneT, NW Assekuranz, Helmut Müller, CEZ Group, Innogy, REETEC, PwC, WindMW, PNE, Lüning Paletten, EMS Maritime Offshore, Green Giraffe, Van Oord, ELA Container, wpd, Tractebel DOC Offshore, Reederei Cassen Eils, bis and WindManShip.
More Information:
https://www.wab.net/termine/windforce-conference/program/
Photo 3 (from left to right): Heike Winkler, WAB Interim Managing Director, Senator Dr. Lohse, WAB Managing Director Andreas Wellbrock, Heiko Stohlmeyer, Head of Renewable Energies PwC)
Photo 4 (from left to right): Senator Dr. Lohse, WAB Managing Director Andreas Wellbrock, Heiko Stohlmeyer, Head of Renewable Energies PwC)
