The offshore substation for the 1-gigawatt (GW) Thor wind project in Denmark is ready for sail-away, following load-out of both the topside and jacket at HSM Offshore’s fabrication yard in Schiedam, the Netherlands.
The substation forms a central component of the Thor offshore wind farm, which is being developed by Germany’s RWE. Once operational, the project is expected to supply renewable electricity to approximately 1.5 million Danish homes.
Final preparations are underway for transport of the structure to its location 22 kilometres off the coast of Thorsminde, on Denmark’s west coast. The substation will connect 72 Siemens Gamesa wind turbines, each with a capacity of 15 megawatts (MW), to the Danish electricity grid.
HSM Offshore Energy is delivering the full engineering, procurement, construction, installation, and commissioning (EPCIC) scope for the offshore substation and its jacket foundation. Engineering firm Iv is a key subcontractor responsible for the design and integration of both components.
The substation accommodates systems for 72 wind turbines of 15MW each, requiring efficient use of every available space,” said a spokesperson for Iv. “With its compact footprint and high capacity, it ranks among the most efficient platforms of its kind.
In addition to the offshore installation, a separate onshore substation will support the grid connection. Commissioning of the Thor wind farm is scheduled for 2027.
The project is jointly owned by RWE and Norges Bank Investment Management and is part of Denmark’s broader strategy to expand offshore wind capacity to meet national and European climate targets.
