RWE has completed installation of all wind turbine foundations for its 660MW Nordseecluster A offshore wind project in the German North Sea.
The company said all 44 monopiles and accompanying secondary steel structures have now been installed, marking a major milestone in construction of the 1.6GW Nordseecluster.
Each foundation measures about 85 metres and weighs around 1500 tonnes – the equivalent of 1000 small cars.
RWE offshore wind chief executive Sven Utermohlen said: “The completion of the foundation installation marks a key step towards implementing our 1.6-gigawatt Nordseecluster, which is currently the largest offshore wind project off the German coast.”
He added: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the RWE team, Van Oord, and all the other companies and partners who contributed to this success.”
RWE said the foundations were stored at Eemshaven in the Netherlands before being transported and installed offshore by Van Oord’s vessels Boreas and Aeolus.
Rather than using separate transition pieces, RWE said extended monopiles were fitted with secondary steel structures offshore, reducing the total steel required.
Offshore construction is progressing as planned, with one of two offshore substation foundations already in place and the second to follow before the end of 2025.
RWE said the 70km of inter-array cabling will be laid early next year, with turbine installation scheduled to begin in summer 2026.
Nordseecluster A is due online in early 2027, with the 900MW Nordseecluster B to follow in 2029.
Together, the two sites will deliver 1.6GW of capacity, generating enough electricity to supply about 1.6 million German homes.
Nordseecluster is a joint venture between RWE, holding 51%, and Norges Bank Investment Management with 49%. RWE is responsible for construction and operation.