RWE is set to begin turbine installation at its 1,400MW Sofia offshore wind farm off the east coast of England, with work expected to start “imminently.” The Cadeler jack-up vessel Wind Peak arrived in Hull last week to be loaded out at Siemens Gamesa’s blade factory, marking the first step in the installation of the wind farm’s 14MW turbines.
The wind farm, which will consist of 100 turbines, is expected to generate its first power later this year, with full commissioning slated for 2026.
Sven Utermohlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind, emphasized the project’s significance, stating: “Sofia is one of RWE’s largest offshore construction projects globally and remains on track and on budget to generate first power this year. This impressive progress reflects the expertise of our RWE team, and the strong support of our supply chain partners, ensuring the successful delivery of flagship projects like Sofia.”
Utermohlen also highlighted the project’s importance in the context of the UK’s energy strategy. “For the UK particularly, the achievement of these latest milestones demonstrates RWE’s crucial role in deploying offshore wind in support of the UK Government’s Clean Power targets by 2030.”
Energy Minister Michael Shanks expressed support for the project, stating: “It is great to see this exciting milestone reached for the Sofia offshore wind farm. Today takes us a step closer to achieving our mission for clean power by 2030, with over a million homes expected to be powered by the cutting-edge turbines of Sofia wind farm.”
Shanks also noted the project’s economic impact: “With £6 billion of investment from this project alone, our clean power mission is creating future-proof jobs, making the UK energy secure, and delivering the clean power needed to get bills down for good.”
The Sofia wind farm is a key part of the UK’s efforts to meet its renewable energy goals and is poised to play a significant role in the nation’s transition to cleaner, more sustainable power sources.
