The first turbine foundation for RWE’s 1600MW Nordseecluster offshore wind project has been installed.
The foundation was put in place around 50km north of the German island of Juist.
RWE offshore wind chief executive Sven Utermöhlen said: “With the 1.6GW Nordseecluster we together with our partner Norges Bank Investment Management are delivering what is currently the largest offshore wind project off the German coast.
“Installing the first monopile is a significant milestone for the entire team, following years of planning and preparation.
“My thanks go to our supply chain partners and all colleagues who contributed to this success.”
The monopiles were shipped from the heavy-lift terminal in Eemshaven, the Netherlands, to the construction site in the German North Sea by Van Oord’s new offshore installation vessel Boreas (pictured).
Four monopiles can be loaded in one shipment, and each foundation measures 85 metres in length and weighs approximately 1500 metric tonnes, which is roughly equivalent to the weight of 1000 small cars.
The Nordseecluster will be constructed in two phases. The installation of the first monopile marks the start of works on Nordseecluster A, which will have a total capacity of 660MW. Installation of the 44 wind turbines for this first phase is expected to start in 2026, with commercial operation beginning in early 2027.
The second stage, Nordseecluster B, will contribute an additional 900MW through its 60 wind turbines. Commercial operation is expected to begin in early 2029.
Once both stages are complete, Nordseecluster will be able to generate enough green electricity to supply the equivalent of 1.6 million German households.