Vattenfall starts offshore construction of Germany’s largest offshore wind project

This marks the start of a key offshore construction phase for Germany’s largest offshore wind project, strengthening Vattenfall’s offshore portfolio and supporting the large-scale expansion of other fossil-free energy in Europe.

“With the installation of the first monopile, Nordlicht is visibly taking shape in the waters of the North Sea. It’s an important step forward for Vattenfall and at the same time a meaningful contribution to the energy transition, strengthening energy security and competitiveness in Europe. Projects of this scale require precise planning, strong partnership across the supply chain, and a clear focus on safety and execution. Seeing the project take shape offshore is a proud moment for the entire team.” says Cyril Moss, Project Director Nordlicht at Vattenfall.

Nordlicht Monopile Installation. Image: Vattenfall

The installation was carried out by DEME, which is responsible for the transport and installation of the foundations and transition pieces for Nordlicht I and II. The monopiles are being manufactured by EEW Special Pipe Constructions in Rostock whereas transition pieces are being manufactured by CSWind in Aalborg. Nordlicht I will comprise 68 monopile and transition piece foundations. Each monopile is up to 80.5 metres long, making it almost as long as a football pitch, and weighs up to 1,290 tonnes.

Earlier this year, Vattenfall tested key offshore work steps on land in order to prepare interfaces, processes and safety aspects ahead of construction at sea. Nordlicht II is planned to follow around one year later.

Nordlicht Monopile Installation. Photo: DEME

The Nordlicht offshore wind cluster is located around 85 kilometres north of the island of Borkum in the German North Sea and consists of two separate projects: Nordlicht I, with a capacity of around 980 megawatts, and Nordlicht II, with around 630 megawatts. Once fully commissioned, the cluster is expected to generate around 6 terawatt hours of electricity per year. The project marks another step in meeting the growing demand for reliable, fossil-free and locally produced electricity in Europe. Both wind farms are scheduled to become operational in 2028.

As part of Vattenfall’s sustainability efforts, the wind farms will feature turbine towers partially made with low-emission steel, reducing their overall carbon footprint by around 16 percent.