John Laing dives into offshore wind

John Laing has acquired a 30% stake in the under-construction 110.7MW Nordergrunde offshore wind farm in the German North Sea.

The deal, first reported exclusively in subscriber-only newsletter reNEWS, is the international infrastructure company’s first in offshore wind and second in Germany.

Existing shareholders include WPD (30%) and Gothaer Leben Renewables (40%). The former will deliver and operate the wind farm.

Nordergrunde will feature 18 Senvion 6.2M126 turbines with installation kicking off earlier this month and the first unit now erected.

Bilfinger is lead contractor with MPI jack-up Enterprise (pictured on site) tackling installation of foundations and turbines.

The wind farm off Wilhelmshaven is due to be completed in the second quarter of 2017.

John Laing managing director of renewable energy Ross McArthur said: “The Nordergrunde offshore wind project in Germany is an important step for John Laing into a new market where we see a significant opportunity, and in a country we want to continue to invest into.”

John Laing received financial advice from Green Giraffe, technical advice from DNV GL, legal advice came from CMS and tax and accounting advice from PwC.

Image: WPD