By Kari Williamson

The joint venture, in which SWM holds a 33% stake, will initially realise onshore wind farms representing investments of €1 billion across Europe.

The partners are planning the construction of wind farms in 12 European countries and in Canada – wpd europe already possesses a project pipeline of over 4.2 GW in different planning stages.

Dr Kurt Mühlhäuser, Head of SWM’s Management, says: “This new cooperation which we just entered into is for us an important element in the scope of our expansion campaign for renewable energies: Up to 2025, we intend to produce such an amount of green energy from our own turbines that we shall be able to satisfy the total energy consumption of Munich. Munich shall be the first city of over 1 million inhabitants to reach this aim! We are optimistic that we will achieve this ambitious target through the potential offered by this onshore cooperation. Until 2020, we are expecting an additional volume of some 1.2 billion kilowatt hours.”

Dr Hartmut Brösamle, CEO of wpd AG; adds: “Independent of our autonomous business sectors wind onshore Germany and wind offshore, we have been looking for a long-term joint venture partner for wpd europe for the long range expansion of the European pipeline.”