Wind power will play an important role in the future energy mix. The acquisition of Energi E2 Renovables Ibéricas enables E.ON to greatly expand its wind power business. E2-I generates electricity in Spain and Portugal from renewables with a net capacity in operation of about 260 MW. Modern wind farms account for most of that capacity (see map), with smaller hydropower and biomass plants making up the rest. Further wind farms totalling additional net 560 MW are already being planned at particularly favourable locations on the Iberian peninsula; they are planed for completion in the next four years. With its acquired wind farms, E.ON is increasing its installed wind power capacity to approx 700 MW; the already envisaged development projects offer considerable potential for further expanding wind power in southern Europe.

This acquisition will give E.ON a total generation capacity of over 7 GW in Spain by 2010, in combination with the Viesgo and Endesa assets that E.ON has agreed to acquire from ENEL and Acciona.

 

Besides onshore wind farms offshore wind farms offer geat potential. Together with Shell and a consortium called CORE, E.ON UK is currently planning the world’s largest wind farm, London Array, to be sited off the south coast of England. The U.K. government approved the main aspects of the plan in 2006. With a total capacity of over 1,000 MW, London Array will be the world’s first gigawatt wind farm and generate enough electricity to power 750,000 homes. Compared with a conventional power plant, it will prevent 1.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, thereby making a significant contribution to climate protection.

 

Robin Rigg, which is scheduled to become operational in 2009, will have a total capacity of 180 MW. It will be the United Kingdom’s largest offshore wind farm until London Array enters service in 2011.

 

By expanding renewable energies and building more efficient power stations, E.ON intends to contribute to climate protection. In the long run, i.e. by 2030, E.ON aims to halve its specific carbon dioxide emissions from power generation against 1990. E.ON is committed to playing a leading international role in climate protection in the future and to supporting the EU target of generating at least 20 per cent of primary energy from renewables by 2020.