RWE Innogy Selects ABS Group to Support Nordsee Ost Offshore Wind Farm

(Houston) ABS Consulting announces that its affiliate, ABS Group Ltd. ("ABS Group"), has been selected to perform inspections of 49 offshore foundations for RWE Innogy's offshore wind farm, Nordsee Ost, in the North Sea off the German coast. ABS Group will inspect the welding and assembly processes of the steel foundation and check for compliance with the manufacturer's design documentation according to the specifications. In addition, inspection of transition pieces, pile clusters, lattice steelwork and interface flanges will also be conducted.

RWE Innogy plans to construct the offshore wind farm approximately 30 kilometers to the north-east of the island of Helgoland. With one offshore substation and 48 multi-megawatt wind turbines, each with a rated output of 6.15 megawatts, Nordsee Ost will, upon completion, have a total output of approximately 300 megawatts. Operation of the first wind turbines, constructed in water depths of up to 25 meters, should commence in the third quarter of 2012.

"We are pleased to support RWE Innogy in this German offshore project and utilize our European and global network to provide inspection services as well as technical solutions," said Torsten Muuss, Director Renewable Energy for ABS Group Ltd. "Our extensive offshore experience has proven the importance of manufacturing monitoring, especially of the foundation as its inspection is difficult and costly after the wind turbine has been erected. Insufficient coating and undetected manufacturing faults can affect the integrity and life span of the foundation—and ultimately the entire wind turbine."

About ABS Group

ABS Group of Companies, Inc. (ABS Group) and its operating subsidiaries provide risk management solutions and certification services worldwide that help clients address the safety, integrity, quality and environmental efficiency of critical assets and operations. Headquartered in Spring, Texas, ABS Group operates with more than 1200 professionals across the globe, serving the marine and offshore, oil, gas and chemical, government, power and energy and industrial sectors. ABS Group is a subsidiary of ABS (www.eagle.org), a leading marine and offshore classification society.