HAMBURG, Germany, May 11 (UPI) -- Wind energy is a vital part of a German move to a low-carbon economy, the German economic minister said during the inauguration of RWE's Nordsee Ost wind farm. German Economics Minister Sigmar Gabriel hosted ministers from the Group of seven industrialized economies, along with representatives from RWE, for the inauguration of the 48-turbine wind farm off the northern German coast.

"Offshore wind energy is a strategically important element of Germany's energy and climate policy and is key to the success of the energy transition," Gabriel said in a statement.


In April, German company E.ON started producing electricity from its Amrumbank West wind power project in the German waters of the North Sea.

Germany is one of the world leaders in renewable energy, a trend established after its decision to move away from nuclear power, in the wake of the nuclear tragedy in Japan in 2011. The United Kingdom is close behind and, combined, the European Union has more than 100 gigawatts of wind power online.

Nordsee Ost has an installed capacity of 295 megawatts, enough power to meet the annual energy needs of about 320,000 households. RWE invested more than $1.1 billion in building the wind farm with the support of a $56 million contribution from the European Union.

RWE's project is among the largest of its kind in the world and, by year's end, more than 40 percent of its power capacity will be generated from wind energy.

"The expansion of renewable energy is one of our main growth areas and offshore wind energy will play a vital role," Chief Executive Officer Peter Terium said. "RWE will become the third largest player in the European offshore market this year."