Siemens to become shareholder in A2SEA

Danish energy company Dong Energy will continue to be the main shareholder, while Siemens will pay approximately €115m (£94m) in two instalments – this year and next – for 49 per cent of the company.

A2SEA, based in Fredericia in Denmark, employs about 200 people and, together with Siemens, the company will build vessels optimised for the installation of offshore wind turbines.

The investment agreement, which is still subject to approval from anti-trust authorities, is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year.

Today, the UK is by far the most important offshore wind market, but offshore projects in Germany are gaining momentum. In addition, countries such as France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Finland and Norway are also considering building offshore wind power farms.

’Outside Europe, we see good opportunities for offshore wind – especially in China with its shallow water near the coast, as well as in the US, where Siemens already has been selected for the Cape Wind project,’ said Wolfgang Dehen, chief executive officer of the Siemens Energy Sector.