Vestas has successfully secured a firm order for 960 MW, featuring their cutting-edge offshore wind turbine, the V236-15.0 MW. This landmark order includes a total of 64 V236-15.0 MW wind turbines designated for installation in the He Dreiht project, situated in the German waters of the North Sea. As part of the agreement, Vestas will also provide a five-year Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service package, followed by a long-term Operational Support Agreement.
This achievement follows the initial announcement of a preferred supplier agreement on July 9, 2021, and a conditional offer extended on June 7, 2022. Vestas, a renowned player in the wind energy sector, expressed their enthusiasm for this milestone and their commitment to contributing to Germany's ambitious wind energy targets.
Nils de Baar, President of Vestas Northern & Central Europe, commented on this development, stating, “We are delighted to announce this firm order for our offshore wind turbine V236-15.0 MW and are honoured to deliver this important milestone on Germany's ambitious wind energy targets together with our partner EnBW. I am very proud of our team, which has worked with great diligence and commitment on our flagship wind turbine over several years. Our thanks go to EnBW for their confidence in our technology and the close cooperation since the beginning of the planning, and I am looking forward to seeing the V236-15.0 MW standing in the German North Sea soon.”
EnBW, Vestas' esteemed partner in this venture, expressed confidence in the technology and their fruitful collaboration. Jörn Däinghaus, project director of EnBW He Dreiht, stated, “Since our pioneer wind farm Baltic 1 more than ten years ago, the technical performance of the turbines have increased sixfold. We will use Vestas' modern and cost-efficient turbine technology which will enable us to realize He Dreiht without subsidies. We look forward to working with Vestas – a partner in whom we have great confidence.”
The He Dreiht project boasts a grid connection capacity of 900 MW, with an additional 60 MW of excess capacity. This excess capacity ensures optimal utilization of the connection even during periods of lower production. Installation for this ambitious project is scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2025, with commissioning planned for the fourth quarter of the same year.
The V236-15.0 MW wind turbine, introduced to the market in February 2021, marked a significant leap in turbine technology, being the first-ever 15 MW turbine of its kind. The successful installation of the prototype turbine in December 2022, which produced its first kWh of power, marked a crucial milestone. Currently, the prototype is undergoing a rigorous test and verification program to ensure its reliability before obtaining full type certification. Vestas is gearing up to deliver on commercial projects, with serial production set to begin in 2024. This achievement underscores the company's commitment to advancing renewable energy solutions and reducing carbon emissions.
