The first turbine at the Gode Wind 3 offshore wind project in Germany, owned by Orsted and Nuveen Infrastructure, has started producing power.
The 11MW turbine was installed on April 23 in the construction area around 32 km off the island of Norderney by Cadeler’s newly upgraded wind farm installation vessel Wind Osprey.
The new turbine model from Siemens Gamesa, the SG 11.0-200 DD, is the largest turbine in the German North Sea with a rotor diameter of 200 metres, according Orsted.
In addition, 22 further turbines will be installed and commissioned in the coming weeks.
Along with Cadeler, the installation will be carried out in equal parts by company Seaway7 with its installation vessel Seaway Ventus.
Jörg Kubitza, managing director for Orsted in Germany, said: “With first power from Gode Wind 3, we are further driving forward the energy transformation in Germany.
“The project is Energiewende in action, a genuine European cooperation with international suppliers and partners.
“I am pleased that our German supply chain in particular is also playing an important role in realising the wind farm.
“However, our industry faces major challenges for the future expansion of offshore wind in Germany, which need to be approached as quickly as possible.
“Production as well as harbor capacities must now be expanded so that we can achieve the high expansion targets together.”
Martin Gerhardt, managing director for Siemens Gamesa in Germany, added: “We are delighted that we can make a major contribution to producing affordable, clean and safe energy in the North Sea with wind turbines from our European production network and at the same time generate added value and jobs locally.”
Jordi Francesch, managing director of renewable energy investments at Nuveen Infrastructure, said: “The successful installation of the first turbine marks an important milestone for Gode Wind 3, for the German and European clean energy transition, and for Nuveen Infrastructure and our lasting commitment to renewables.
“In collaboration with our partners and by utilising the most powerful and largest commercial turbine in German waters, emphasises our continued ambition to lead the way in innovative investment decisions which deliver long term and lasting value to society, environment, and investors.”