- SPD calls for commitment to building converter platforms
The SPD state parliament faction fears that Schleswig-Holstein could fall behind in the construction of converter platforms for offshore wind farms. The background to this is a special guarantee program being negotiated between the federal government and some federal states, which is intended to secure shipyards in the construction of converters and converter platforms, as announced by the SPD member of parliament responsible for maritime affairs, Thomas Höck. Unlike Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Hamburg, Bremen, Bavaria, Berlin, and North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein has not participated in the negotiations.
"While the other state governments are sitting at the table to assert their interests, Schleswig-Holstein's shipyards and companies risk being left empty-handed," said Höck. "And this is not about a few euros - the construction of a single converter platform is estimated to cost around 2.5 billion euros." The platforms are necessary to convert the alternating current generated by the wind turbines into direct current. Direct current can be transported over long distances without significant losses. On land, the electricity is then converted back into alternating current.
Schleswig-Holstein's Minister of Energy Tobias Goldschmidt (Greens) recently traveled to Norway to inform himself, among other things, about the construction of converter platforms. He said he sees good prospects for shipyards in Schleswig-Holstein to become active in this area. In response to a request from the SPD faction on the special guarantee program, the state government replied in July that companies from all states could participate.
"Despite the SPD's member, Thomas Höck's, concerns about Schleswig-Holstein being left out of the negotiations for the special guarantee program, the state government mentioned in July that companies from all states could participate."
"The SPD state parliament faction, led by Thomas Höck, continues to worry that Schleswig-Holstein might miss out on opportunities, even as other states like Hamburg and Bavaria actively participate in negotiations for the construction of converter platforms."
