German Seaports Buzzing in Anticipation of Offshore Wind Boom / EWEA Offshore 2011

Berlin/Amsterdam (ots) - As Germany prepares for a major expansion
of offshore wind to replace nuclear power, companies like French
giant Areva and US-based General Electric (GE) have flocked to the
German coastlines. With wind parks planned for both the North Sea
and Baltic Sea, the buildup can be felt in the country's seaports
and hinterlands. Germany Trade & Invest will have wind industry
experts at this year's EWEA Offshore in Amsterdam on November 30 to
share new business opportunities in Germany's offshore wind industry.

Germany's key seaports are transforming thanks to multi-million
dollar investments geared toward the offshore industry. With two of
Europe's top four busiest ports located in Germany, companies have
access to a well developed infrastructure. Areva has just opened a
full-load test bench in Bremerhaven to check its new 5-MW wind
turbines manufactured nearby. Other ports are bustling as well: BARD
manages its projects from Emden and Cuxhaven and Niedersachsen is
investing in its infrastructure. Ports in Schleswig-Holstein have
already developed a logistics concept for offshore wind. And Rostock
and Wismar in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern can serve both Baltic Sea and
North Sea projects through the Kiel Canal. Further inland,
established onshore players are also gearing up for the offshore
boom.

"Although there are still a number of unanswered questions, the
expansion of offshore wind in Germany is an incredible opportunity
for foreign companies. Support for renewable energy in Germany is
unwavering, meaning that investors benefit from a secure business
environment," said Anne Bräutigam, wind industry expert at Germany
Trade & Invest in Berlin.

Germany has increased its infrastructure budget by EUR 1 billion
to EUR 11 billion for 2012, partially in anticipation of the rapid
expansion of offshore wind. A fifth lock between the North and Baltic
Seas is planned for next year.

Germany Trade & Invest will be presenting opportunities in
offshore wind at this year's conference along with several
partners, including the economic development agencies of seven
federal states: Baden-Wurttemberg, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg,
Mecklenburg- Vorpommern, Niedersachsen and Schleswig-Holstein.

For further information on Germany's wind energy industry,
Germany Trade & Invest has published a new fact sheet available at
www.gtai.com/windenergy/fact-sheet/.

Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment
promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization
advises foreign companies looking to expand their business activities
in the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to
German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

Media contact:
Germany Trade & Invest
Andreas Bilfinger
Email: andreas.bilfinger@gtai.com
T: +49(0)30 200099-173
F: +49(0)30 200099-511