OSTWIND puts sails in Europe

Husum/Regensburg, 20 September 2005 - Europe has recognized the sign of the times and is aiming to master the future with the help of "intelligent energy production". Wind–generated power capacity is to be increased by 15,000 MW by the year 2008. For OSTWIND the future has already begun as well. From being the "pioneer of wind power" in Germany the company has advanced to become an international player in the wind power market. The first projects abroad have been completed successfully in France and Croatia. "But that is just the beginning," announced Gisela Wendling-Lenz and Ulrich Lenz on behalf of OSTWIND today at the HUSUMwind 2005. They intend to develop around 800 MW throughout Europe over the next few years – and have therefore reorganized the company group for the purpose.

The entrepreneur couple used the opening of the world's biggest wind energy trade fair in Husum to officially announce that the OSTWIND Group had been restructured in order to make it fit for the challenges of the international market. The changes are most apparent in the new names:

• OSTWIND project will in future be developing wind farms not just in Germany but in Spain, Greece, the Czech Republic and Croatia.
• OSTWIND technic is responsible for the technical and commercial operations management of the plants.
• OSTWIND international will be responsible for "blowing the winds of change" in France in respect of the efficient use regenerative energies.
• Unchanged is the Lenz-Öko-Gewerbe-Bau GmbH (LÖG) which builds and manages projects through to turn-key completion.

"What remains unchanged, however, is our objective of giving customer satisfaction not just on the basis of our good name but, above all, through the quality of our work," added the company directors. This is because satisfied OSTWIND customers have provided the basis for the success of the company to date and who are the prerequisite for the ambitious international plans of the group which is now based in Regensburg, Bockelwitz (Saxony) and Strasbourg. The figures presented in Husum at the same time provided confirmation, according to OSTWIND, of the positive developments achieved over recent years and "provide the company with a tail wind for new projects for the future," said Gisela Wendling-Lenz.

Tail wind as an impressive result
In total the renowned planning practice has to date connected 31 wind farms with 277 wind power stations and an output of 325 MW to the power grid. Over 600 million kWh of wind generated electricity from OSTWIND stations supply over 200,000 households with clean electricity each year at realistic costs – "meaning without emissions of greenhouse gases, sulphur dioxide or nitrogen oxide, and without any fine dust particles or radioactive waste," as wind energy expert Ulrich Lenz emphasized.

- In Germany the total output of all projects developed in 2004 and 2005 alone was over 78 MW, divided among four new wind farms.

- In France, at a height of no less than 1200 m above sea level, the first wind farm planned by OSTWIND International under the direction of Fabien Kayser started operations in the summer of 2005. A further 140 MW have been approved in Pas-de-Calais and a total of some 500 MW are currently at the planning stage.

- In Croatia the first wind farm in the country was connected to the power grid in autumn 2004 in a cooperation project with OSTWIND. Another one is to follow shortly in the south of the country.

- In addition, OSTWIND also has successful operations in Spain and Greece – and more recently in the Czech Republic as well. There the company is planning wind farms at a range of locations with an output of approx. 100 MW which are to be implemented in three phases starting in 2007.

Operations management also on course for Europe
Expansion into international terrain is also the objective of Bockelwitz-based OSTWIND technic in Saxony. One of the big operations management companies in Germany it currently has responsibility for 22 wind farms with 230 wind wheels. By next year at the latest, said managing director Rüdiger Nowak in Husum, the wind energy company aims to have expanded into Europe. "For example, it is planned that a subsidiary will be responsible for operations management work in France," he said confidently.

Focus on repowering
In addition to the new countries, OSTWIND's focus is increasingly taking in "repowering" as well, meaning the replacement of old stations by modern, more powerful machines. "This is a trend which perfectly matches our competence and is gaining in importance – for us too," said Ulrich Lenz.

More support for wind demanded
In relation to current debates about energy policy, both Gisela Wendling-Lenz and Ulrich Lenz stressed the importance of the responsibility of politicians to secure a sustainable energy supply for the future. "For all the positive forecasts to be realized, also in terms of new jobs, it is important that the legislative background for wind power remains stable," they demanded. Germany has the opportunity to meet all its energy requirements from regenerative sources over the long term if greater efforts are made to save energy and improve efficiency. "It would be good if there were to be a new majority in the German parliament for this objective," said Gisela Wendling-Lenz.

Christoph Markl-Meider, OSTWIND Media and Communication

OSTWIND
The OSTWIND Group, with registered offices in Regensburg, Bockelwitz (Saxony) and Strasbourg, develops, plans and constructs wind farms for the use of renewable energy sources throughout Europe. To date OSTWIND has planned and built 31 wind farms with a total of 277 wind power stations and an output of 325 MW, all of which it has connected to the power grid. In addition to its activities in Germany and France, OSTWIND also operates in Spain, Greece, the Czech Republic and Croatia. Furthermore, the operations management of the stations is also a central branch of the company's business. The OSTWIND operating company currently runs 22 wind farms with 230 wind wheels.


We look forward to seeing you:
Welcome to the wind, welcome to OSTWIND,
welcome to the HUSUMwind 2005 at Stand 1B10 in Hall 1!

Our telephone number at the trade fair: 0049 (0)4841-665959



Should you have any questions, please contact:

Christoph Markl-Meider, OSTWIND Media and Communication,
Tel: 0049 (0)841-975915 or 0049 (0)941-55516, Fax: 0049 (0)841-975917, Mobile: 0049 (0)179 5975863, E-mail: markl@ostwind.de>markl@ostwind.de

Herbert Grabe, OSTWIND Public Relations and Visual Communication,
Tel: 0049 (0)9403-969254 or 0049 (0)941-55516, Fax: 0049 (0)9403-969255, Mobile: 0049 (0)170-2931011, E-mail: grabe@ostwind.de>grabe@ostwind.dea

http://www.ostwind.de

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