Turbine installation of the first phase, Nordseecluster A, is carried out by DEME’s vessel Norse Wind, which can transport and install five turbine sets per cycle. By the end of 2026 it is expected that all 44 Vestas turbines will be in place. Each individual turbine will have a capacity of up to 15 megawatts (MW), has a hub height of 145 meters and features rotor blades that are 115 meters long.
Sven Utermöhlen, Chief Executive Officer RWE Offshore Wind, said, “Large-scale offshore construction projects require close collaboration, technical expertise and a clear commitment to safety — qualities our teams at sea demonstrate every day. The successful installation of the first turbine marks a significant milestone in the delivery of Nordseecluster, RWE’s largest offshore wind project currently under construction.”
Damien Lhors, Head of Global Offshore at Vestas, added, “The installation of the first turbine at Nordseecluster A marks an important milestone for both Vestas and RWE, and underlines the strength of our long-standing partnership. Projects at this scale are critical for accelerating Europe’s energy transition, and we are proud to support RWE in delivering one of Germany’s largest offshore wind developments.”
With a total capacity of 660 MW, Nordseecluster A is expected to be fully connected to the grid in early 2027. The second expansion phase – Nordseecluster B – will add a further 900 MW of capacity. Production of some components has already begun. Installation of the foundations is scheduled to start next year, followed by the installation of the 60 Vestas turbines in 2028. Nordseecluster B is scheduled to commence commercial operations in early 2029.
Together, the Nordseecluster wind farms will generate around 6.5 terawatt hours of climate-friendly electricity annually. RWE will use the green electricity generated from the wind farms to support its industrial customers on the path to decarbonization with customised energy solutions. These customers increasingly include technology companies such as Amazon, with whom RWE signed a Power Purchase Agreement earlier this year for 110 MW from Nordseecluster B.
Nordseecluster is a joint offshore wind project between RWE (51% share) and Norges Bank Investment Management (49% share). RWE is responsible for the construction and operation of the Nordseecluster offshore wind farms throughout their entire life cycle.
