Luxcara has signed a preferred supplier agreement with Chinese manufacturer Ming Yang Smart Energy for turbines to be used in the Waterkant offshore wind farm in Germany, totaling approximately 270 megawatts (MW).
The agreement covers 16 turbines, each with a capacity of up to 18.5MW and a rotor diameter of 260 meters, according to the asset manager.
The decision to select Ming Yang followed a rigorous evaluation process launched in late 2023, focusing on supply chain integrity, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance aligned with EU standards, and cybersecurity, verified by independent experts from DNV and KPMG. Ming Yang has committed to manufacturing the turbines using 100% renewable energy and plans to source relevant electrical components from European sub-suppliers.
Holger Matthiesen, project director for Waterkant, highlighted the project's role in advancing Germany's energy transition: “By deciding for the world's most powerful offshore wind turbine, we will be able to expedite Germany's energy transition while fostering much-needed competition in the industry.”
The Waterkant wind farm, situated in the German North Sea's N-6.7 development zone, secured seabed rights in a 2023 auction. Luxcara emphasized that despite the turbine supply agreement with Ming Yang, management, operation, and control of the wind farm will remain under the purview of an independent German entity.