Chronicle

In Schleswig-Holstein, the FuE-Zentrum FH Kiel GmbH established at the end of 2005 a "Competence Center Offshore Wind Energy Utilization - North Sea Development Platform for Technology and Nature Conservation (FINO3-NEPTUN)", funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Schleswig-Holstein with funds from the European Union, European Fund for Regional Development (ERDF) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). During this phase I, the technical requirements based on the various scientific research projects were defined in the form of a requirement specification. Thereafter, on this basis, the tendering of the platform and the awarding to a bidder took place. Implementation planning began in autumn 2007 and construction of the platform in spring 2008. In August 2009 FINO3 was put into operation.

The operation of the platform has been carried out continuously since 2009 by the FuE-Zentrum FH Kiel GmbH. Sponsors were and are the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), the state of Schleswig-Holstein with state and EU funds, and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) or the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).