EWE will have a 40% share in the development of the project and the companies expect a final investment decision in 2016.
The €1bn first phase of the offshore wind farm was inaugurated in September. Situated 45km off the island of Borkum, the first stage of the project reached full commercial operation in July.
Phase one features 40 Areva/Adwen turbines. The second phase is expected to cost about €800m with the offshore substation already in place.
During the initial expansion phase, Trianel created conditions to increase the project’s capacity to 400MW.
The on-site transformer platform is currently ready. It secured a licence from the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency.
EWE chief technology officer Ines Kolmsee said: "EWE can call upon its expertise from the development and operation of the first German offshore wind farm, alpha ventus, and the first commercial offshore wind farm, Riffgat.
"Trianel will contribute the knowledge it gained during the development of the Trianel wind farm Borkum, the first municipal offshore wind farm."
Trianel management spokesman Sven Becker said: "The joint venture with EWE provides the foundation for the planned decision to build during the next year."
The first expansion stage of the wind farm will generate about 800 gigawatt hours of energy per year, enough for about 200,000 homes.
Image: The €1bn first phase of the TWB II offshore wind farm was inaugurated in September. Photo: courtesy of xedos4/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
