Germany's offshore wind energy sector sees significant progress as construction initiates on the He Dreiht offshore wind farm in the North Sea, marking one of the country's largest offshore projects to date. EnBW, a prominent energy company, spearheads the development of this 960-megawatt (MW) wind farm, representing a substantial €2.4 billion investment.
Located approximately 85 kilometers northwest of Borkum and 110 kilometers west of Helgoland, He Dreiht promises to bolster Germany's renewable energy capacity. During peak construction periods, more than 500 workers will be engaged on-site, with over 60 ships facilitating the project's execution.
The monumental task involves deploying state-of-the-art infrastructure, including the utilization of the Thialf, one of the world's largest floating cranes, to install the initial foundations. These foundations consist of monopiles, each measuring 70 meters in length, 9.2 meters in diameter, and weighing approximately 1350 metric tons. Subsequently, transition pieces will be affixed, serving as the crucial link between the wind turbine tower and the monopile.
Preparatory efforts in the Netherlands, where monopiles and transition pieces were loaded onto floating platforms in Eemshaven, facilitate smooth logistics. Tugboats then tow these components to the construction site for installation. Foundation installation activities are projected to extend into the summer months.
Simultaneously, manufacturing of the wind turbines and cables, supplied by Vestas, progresses in tandem. Installation and cable laying operations are slated for early 2025, contributing to the project's anticipated completion by the end of the same year.
He Dreiht's inception traces back to the inaugural offshore auction held in Germany in 2017, securing its trajectory towards fruition. EnBW assumes responsibility for both technical and commercial management, with servicing and maintenance operations headquartered in Emden.
TenneT, the transmission system operator, undertakes the task of grid connectivity via an offshore converter station and two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) export cables. Spanning a total distance of 230 kilometers, these cables facilitate the transmission of electricity to the mainland, culminating in the Garrel/Ost converter station in the Cloppenburg area.
A consortium comprising Allianz Capital Partners, AIP, and Norges Bank Investment Management holds a 49.9% stake in He Dreiht, reinforcing collaborative efforts towards advancing Germany's energy transition goals.
Georg Stamatelopoulos, CEO of EnBW, emphasizes the company's commitment to accelerating Germany's energy transition, outlining plans to invest €40 billion in the energy sector by 2030, with a significant portion allocated to Germany.
