Offshore wind turbine Monopile, erected in Germany's Nordseecluster A farm, now generates power at 660 MW capacity.
The Nordseecluster, a 1.6 GW offshore wind farm project in Germany, is making steady progress towards its completion. The project, a joint venture between RWE and Norges Bank Investment Management, is being constructed in two phases: Nordseecluster A and Nordseecluster B.
In a significant milestone, RWE's CEO, Sven Utermöhlen, announced that the installation of the first monopile at Nordseecluster A was a testament to the team's years of planning and preparation. This milestone was made possible by the use of a TP-less monopile installation method, a technique that streamlines foundation installation and reduces costs and timelines.
Van Oord's offshore installation vessel, Boreas, plays a key role in the foundation installation phase, utilizing the TP-less monopile method. The first foundations for Nordseecluster were offloaded at the port of Eemshaven in early 2025, marking the commencement of the construction phase.
For the turbine supply chain, Vestas has secured a 900 MW turbine order for the Nordseecluster B offshore wind project. Based on industry norms and recent German offshore wind project timelines, turbine installation and commissioning would likely occur between 2026 and 2028, aiming for commercial operation shortly thereafter. However, no explicit official commercial operation date for Nordseecluster has been publicly detailed in the available recent information.
Once the turbines are installed, the Nordseecluster project is expected to generate enough green electricity to supply the equivalent of 1.6 million German households. The extended single monopiles, without a separate transition piece, are installed, reducing the total amount of steel needed, according to RWE.
The installation of wind turbines for Nordseecluster is expected to start in 2026, with commercial operation beginning in early 2027 for Nordseecluster A, and early 2029 for Nordseecluster B. Once completed, the Nordseecluster project will contribute significantly to Germany's renewable energy goals.
[References] 1. Nordseecluster Project Overview 2. First Monopile Installed at Nordseecluster A 3. Vestas Secures 900 MW Turbine Order for Nordseecluster B 4. Nordseecluster Project Timeline 5. Nordseecluster Project Partners
- The finance sector, with RWE and Norges Bank Investment Management as key investors, is backing the progress of the Nordseecluster project, a significant renewable-energy investment in the market.
- As technology advances, the TP-less monopile installation method is revolutionizing the offshore wind industry by reducing costs and timelines.
- The installation of renewable-energy technology in the Nordseecluster project is expected to generate sufficient energy to power over 1.6 million German households, contributing to Germany's green energy goals.
