Borkum Riffgrund 3 shows the breadth of the European offshore wind supply chain as the project has been constructed using wind turbines and foundations from Germany and Denmark, cables from Germany and France, and installation vessels from the Netherlands and Belgium.
The renewable electricity from Borkum Riffgrund 3, which has now started to flow into the German grid, will, through several long-term corporate power purchase agreements (CPPAs), help industry and technology customers decarbonise their business. The offshore wind farm is expected to be fully commissioned in Q1 2026.
Patrick Harnett, Chief Construction Officer at Ørsted, said, “Offshore wind will play a key role in securing European energy independence and manufacturing jobs. Borkum Riffgrund 3 is a prime example of both. The project has been constructed by European companies, creating local manufacturing jobs. And, once completed, it will produce the same amount of electricity that a large city uses every year, supporting European industry with a significant amount of green energy through CPPAs. ”
Jordi Francesch, Managing Director Renewable Energy Investments at Nuveen Infrastructure, said,
“The generation of the first power at Borkum Riffgrund 3 is both a significant landmark for German offshore wind and our commitment to accelerating the EU energy transition. Our partnership with Ørsted will deliver 913 MW of clean energy to German households and European corporates making this project a new benchmark for decarbonisation while also supporting long-term energy security for Germany and the EU.”
Borkum Riffgrund 3 is located about 72 km off the coast in the German North Sea and covers an area of approx. 75 km². A total of 83 wind turbines, each with a rated capacity of 11 MW, have been installed at the offshore wind farm.
Furthermore, Borkum Riffgrund 3 is the first offshore wind farm to be built by Ørsted in Germany without an offshore substation (OSS). The new connection concept provides a direct connection between the wind turbines via a 66 kV connection to the DolWin epsilon offshore converter platform, installed and operated by the German transmission system operator, TenneT.
Borkum Riffgrund 3 is supported by several long-term corporate power purchase agreements (CPPA), which Ørsted has signed with industrial and technology customers. Offtake agreements totalling 786 MW have been entered into with Amazon (350 MW), BASF (186 MW), Covestro (100 MW), Energie-Handels-Gesellschaft/REWE Group (100 MW), and Google (50 MW). The contracts range from 10 to 25 years in duration. The agreements create long-term price security for the project developer and for the customers.
