Matthias+Laatsch+to+lead+DNV%E2%80%99s+wind+energy+office+in+Hamburg

Hamburg: DNV has appointed Matthias Laatsch to lead its wind energy operations in Hamburg, Germany. Due to the combination of its global leadership in the certification of offshore wind projects and strong local capabilities in marine operations and surveillance in fabrication yards, DNV is in a prime position to support Germany’s offshore wind energy industry.

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Matthias Laatsch, the leader of DNV’s wind energy office in Hamburg

DNV’s growing team in Hamburg comprises dedicated wind energy experts who are able to draw on DNV’s 25 years of experience in serving the global wind energy industry. They will work closely with DNV’s wind team based in Copenhagen, Denmark and London, UK, and will also be firmly supported by DNV’s marine survey team, located in Hamburg and Oslo.

“With a strong local presence in Hamburg, DNV has much to offer to Germany`s major growth plans within the renewables sector,” says Kevin Smith, DNV’s Segment Director for Wind Energy.

“DNV appointed Matthias Laatsch due to his substantial experience and knowledge of the German offshore wind project certification market, as well as his extensive professional experience in complementary sectors such as bridge design and engineering, hydraulic steel works and large infrastructure projects,” explains Frøydis Eldevik, DNV`s Director of Operations - Cleaner Energy Europe.

Mr Laatsch, whose background is civil engineering joined the offshore wind industry six years ago, and has gained valuable experience in offshore engineering. He started his offshore career supervising the building of the FINO 1 research platform. For Germany’s first offshore wind farm - Alpha Ventus - Mr Laatsch led the full scope of project certification in accordance with the German BSH requirements. Under his leadership, the project successfully obtained the first project certificate for a German offshore wind farm.

In addition to Alpha Ventus, Matthias Laatsch has also led the project certification efforts for offshore wind projects such as Bard Offshore 1, Baltic 1, Princess Amalia (Q7), Nordsee Ost and others. He is well versed in all of the different project certification modules as well as in the German BSH requirements.

“Strengthening DNV’s offshore wind focus in Hamburg is an important strategic move. The team will be close to the hub of Germany’s wind energy sector. We have ambitious growth plans and this creates a major opportunity to work closely with the key players in the German market,” says Matthias Laatsch.

Date: 18 October 2011

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About DNV in the wind industry

DNV is a global provider of risk management services, helping companies to safely and responsibly improve their business performance. Established in 1864, the independent foundation has a network of 300 offices in 100 countries, with headquarters in Oslo, Norway. DNV’s prime assets are the knowledge and expertise of its 8,500 employees.

We have been a global leader in the wind industry for over 25 years and DNV is the largest wind energy consultancy in the USA as well as one of the world’s largest combined consultancies and certification bodies. More than 250 DNV colleagues are employed directly in delivering wind energy expertise, while many more contribute from our other business areas such as maritime and energy. Our wind energy offices are located in Denmark, the UK, Germany, Norway, the USA, China, South Korea, Singapore, Brazil and India.

DNV offers a broad range of advisory services that support the wind industry in its critical technical and financial decision-making. These include initial site selection, wind resource assessment and energy analysis for power performance testing, technical due diligences for investors and operational risk management.

DNV also provides third party type certification of onshore and offshore turbines, as well as certification of offshore wind farms. This helps to minimise late design changes and ensure the confidence of manufacturers, developers, owners, financiers, insurers and the relevant authorities.
Since 2001, DNV has cooperated closely with the wind industry to develop state-of-the-art knowledge that ensures transparent, cost-efficient and unified approaches to building wind energy technology.

This knowledge is published in our standards, rules, guidelines and recommended practices. We are also leading international efforts to standardise design practices through active participation in the IEC and other standards bodies.

Building on its role as the world’s leading classification society, DNV has supported the development of all types of installation and service vessels. This includes the development of the world’s first class notations for these vessels to improve safety and promote uniform standards.

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