DONG Energy, the LEGO Group and William Demant celebrate the inauguration of Borkum Riffgrund 1 Offshore Wind Farm in Germany

The joint announcement by top management from DONG Energy, market leader in planning, constructing and operating offshore wind farms, the LEGO Group (KIRKBI A/S), makers of the iconic LEGO® brick, and William Demant, specialists in personal hearing aid products, is made in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Joachim of Denmark who officially opens the wind farm.

Uwe Beckmeyer, Federal Ministry of Economy & Energy, State Secretary and Deputy Minister comments:
“The first offshore wind farm installed by DONG Energy in Germany is a great success. ‘Borkum Riffgrund 1' is an impressive example of just how fast offshore installations can now be installed. This translates into lower costs and is good news for consumers.”
Thomas Thune Andersen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of DONG Energy A/S welcomes the guests in Norden-Norddeich, located in the Northwest of Germany, from where the wind farm will be operated:
“Borkum Riffgrund 1 is our first operational project in Germany and I’m very satisfied with the fact that we can now harvest the fruits of the investment we have put into this project. I’m also very pleased with the confidence that our joint venture partners have shown us by investing in this project. Our journey in Germany is far from over. We are currently building another two offshore wind projects and have a number of other projects in our pipeline that will allow us to demonstrate the skills and competences we have gained and will allow us to continue to show the trust we have in the German offshore wind market.”
Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, President and Chief Executive Officer of the LEGO Group comments:
”In the LEGO Group, we want to make a positive impact on the planet children will inherit. Our main contribution to society is our creative play experiences and their contribution to children's learning and development. Today, I am proud and literally energised to celebrate that the wind farm now generates renewable energy. It is a substantial step towards our 2020 goal, to be 100% balanced by renewable energy. We will reach this by focusing on our energy efficiency, which has improved by more than 20% in the last five years and by investing in renewable energy. These combined efforts mean that by 2020 we will produce more renewable energy than we use to manufacture the billions of LEGO bricks children all over the world love to play with.”
Lars Chr. Lilleholt, Danish Minister for Energy, Utilities and Climate:
“Germany is a key trading partner for Denmark. The country has significant political and economic weight and is an extremely important partner for Denmark. This also applies to our good cooperation with Germany in the energy sector which, among other things, I want to promote on this trip. Germany is also Denmark’s main export market, which is also the case when it comes to energy technologies.”
Stefan Wenzel, Lower Saxony's Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate Protection:
“For the German Energiewende as well as for the state Lower Saxony as industrial location, I’m happy, that offshore wind gains momentum despite of all adversities and thanks to companies like DONG Energy. This we need to maintain, also going forward. We need a smooth transition to ensure a continuous build out and realization of cost reduction potentials. Planning certainty is therefore key.”

Renewable energy for 320,000 German households
With a nominal power per turbine of 4.0 MW, the 78 wind turbines will produce enough environmentally friendly electricity to supply 320,000 German households each year. The planning of the offshore wind farm Borkum Riffgrund 1 began with the final investment decision in 2011. In August 2013, the construction of the wind farm started with the installation of the offshore substation, which is the heart of the wind farm.
The wind farm is located 37 kilometres north of the German island Borkum and 54 kilometres from the German coast. The 78 wind turbines have a total nominal power of 312 MW. Thus, Borkum Riffgrund 1 contributes considerably to the aim of the German government to install a total of 6.5 GW of offshore wind energy until the year 2020. Almost 3 GW have been installed in the German North and Baltic Sea so far.

DONG Energy
For further information:
Iris Franco Fratini, Senior Manager, Communication
Ph: +49 40 181 310-830
IRFRA@dongenergy.de

About DONG Energy
DONG Energy is one of the leading energy groups in Northern Europe, headquartered in Denmark. Around 6,500 ambitious employees are engaged in exploring and producing oil and gas, developing, constructing and operating offshore wind farms and power stations, and providing energy to residential and business customers on a daily basis. Group revenue was DKK 67bn (EUR 9.0bn) in 2014. For further information, see www.dongenergy.com
DONG Energy Wind Power develops, builds and operates wind farms. The company has built more than one third of the total offshore wind capacity in the market, which is more than any other company worldwide. This capacity is equivalent to an ability to supply five million Europeans with clean electricity. By 2020, DONG Energy aims to have quadrupled our installed capacity compared with 2012. The installed capacity in 2020 is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 16 million Europeans.

LEGO Group
For further information:
Roar Trangbæk, Press Officer
Ph: +45 7950 4348
media@LEGO.com

About the LEGO Group
The LEGO Group is a privately held, family-owned company with headquarters in Billund, Denmark, and main offices in Enfield, USA, London, UK, Shanghai, China, and Singapore. Founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, and based on the iconic LEGO® brick, it is one of the world's leading manufacturers of play materials.
Guided by the company spirit: "Only the best is good enough”, the company is committed to the development of children and aims to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through creative play and learning. LEGO products are sold worldwide and can be virtually explored at www.LEGO.com.
For more news from the LEGO Group and our responsibility engagement, please visit http://www.lego.com/da-dk/aboutus/responsibility.