The installation phase of the first AREVA M5000 turbines has begun for the German offshore wind farm Global Tech I and Trianel Windpark Borkum in the North Sea.

By 2014, these two parks will host 120 turbines (40 at Trianel Windpark Borkum, 80 at Global Tech I) for an installed capacity of 600 megawatts, providing electricity to around 600,000 households.

AREVA's technology will represent at that point, 33% of the 1800 MW of Germany's offshore wind installed base.

The Trianel Windpark Borkum, with a 200 MW capacity, is located nearly 45 kilometers off the island of Borkum, near the alpha ventus park where six AREVA turbines have been in operation since 2009.

The Global Tech 1 park, with a 400 MW capacity, is located at a distance of 110 kilometers from the German coast, which will constitute a world first.

Louis-Francois Durret, Senior Executive Vice-President of AREVA's Renewable Energies Business Group, said "By giving us their confidence, our customers Trianel and Global Tech I, have enabled us to reinforce our key player position on the European offshore wind market and positions us favourably to win future contracts in France and the United Kingdom."