Wind exec who mulled using Mingyang turbines joins board of key offshore wind group

Holger Matthiesen elected to BWO board which sets strategic guidelines and represents interests sector vis-à-vis politicians, administrators and public

Holger Matthiesen, director of offshore wind & green hydrogen at Hamburg-based asset manager Luxcara, and member of the board of BWOPhoto: BWO

Bernd Radowitz

European Editor, Recharge

Holger Matthiesen, director of offshore wind & green hydrogen at Hamburg-based asset manager Luxcara, will join the executive board of the German Offshore Wind Energy Association (BWO), a key offshore wind group mostly representing operators.

Matthiesen last year was responsible at Luxcara for lining up Mingyang Smart Energy as turbine supplier for the 270MW Waterkant offshore wind project in the German North Sea – which at the time looked like a breakthrough for the Chinese OEM in Europe.

After much criticism in the sector and pressure by Germany’s defence ministry, Luxcara last month replaced Mingyang as preferred supplier for the project with Siemens Gamesa, and also chose the German manufacturer for its much larger 1.5GW Waterekke project, alleging synergies for the change of mind.

The BWO’s “goal is to further develop the industry – for added value, clean energy, and future-proof jobs in Germany," Matthiesen said now.

The BWO board sets the strategic guidelines for the group’s work and represents the interests of the industry vis-à-vis politicians, administrators and the public.

The association’s chairwoman, Irina Lucke, was full of praise, saying Matthiesen brings valuable international experience in the development, construction, and operation of offshore wind farms.

“He knows the industry from a variety of perspectives and represents the close connection between industrial practice and investor interests,” Lucke said.

“With him, we have gained an ideal addition to the BWO Board at a time when we are jointly developing solutions for a robust supply chain and competitive investment conditions."

Before Luxcara, Matthiesen held senior positions at Aker Horizons and Mainstream Power in offshore wind development, and at RWE Renewables and E.ON Climate & Renewables.

He succeeds Jost Backhaus, who is leaving the board due to his move to renewables developer Juwi.