The Oldenburg Sandbank 24 project has received planning permission for the pilot phase of one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms by the German shipping authority.

The Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH) handed over the permit for construction of the first of seven phases that will see some 80 wind turbines with a nominal output of 3 MW to 5 MW installed.

Sandbank 24 lies within what is claimed to be the largest area suitable for offshore wind energy in the North Sea, about 90 km west of the island of Sylt, in depths of 25 – 30 m.

Construction is due to start in 2006.