HAMBURG (dpa-AFX) - Wind farms in the middle of the German North and Baltic Seas are expected to produce a fifth more electricity by the end of the year. The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) in Hamburg forecasts an output of 10.4 gigawatts in the German exclusive economic zone (AWZ), according to a statement.

Currently, the output in the EEZ, which begins about 22 kilometers off the coast, is 8.6 gigawatts. If the BSH includes the so-called coastal sea, the figure is around 9.2 gigawatts. The coastal sea is the part of the sea off the coast.

Germany's goal is for offshore wind energy to reach a capacity of at least 30 gigawatts by 2030. This is laid down in the Offshore Wind Energy Act.

The BSH analysis was prompted by a review of 15 years of offshore wind energy. Wind farms consist of wind turbines that produce electricity.

Germany ranks third worldwide

Germany ranks third worldwide in terms of the output of its 27 wind farms, according to the BSH. Agency president Helge Heegewaldt spoke of a "success story." The wind farms consist of a total of more than 1,500 wind turbines.

The BSH bases its comparison on figures from the international industry organization Global Wind Energy Council. According to the Lisbon-based organization, Germany accounted for 11 percent of the world's installed offshore wind energy capacity. The United Kingdom had a share of 19 percent. China accounted for half of the capacity.

Companies operate nine converter platforms

Companies currently operate nine converter platforms in the German exclusive economic zone. Three more are being built. Converter platforms are billion-dollar facilities that are set up near wind farms. The platforms are needed because wind farms usually generate alternating current. The converters convert alternating current into direct current so that it can be transported with minimal loss.

Approximately 70 percent of the planned power cables have been laid

High-voltage cables connect the wind farms to the converter platforms and then transport the electricity to land. The BSH announced that approximately 70 percent of the cables planned to date have been laid. Cables with a total length of more than 2,700 kilometers are planned./lkm/DP/zb