Orsted and Nuveen Infrastructure have announced that the 253-megawatt (MW) Gode Wind 3 offshore wind farm has officially begun full commercial operations. The project, located in the German North Sea, marks Orsted's fifth operational offshore wind farm in Germany, with final testing completed in late February.
The wind farm, which consists of 23 Siemens Gamesa 11MW turbines, is expected to provide renewable energy to approximately 1.6 million households in Germany. It is a significant part of Orsted's strategy to expand its offshore wind capacity in the region.
The Gode Wind 3 project was completed under challenging industry conditions, a feat praised by the project's team. “I'm very proud to see that Gode Wind 3 now completely feeds in power to the German grid, having started its full commercial operation,” said Felix Gschnell, Programme Director for Gode Wind 3. “Completing this project in a challenging industry environment has been a massive effort for our team and our entire supply chain – to whom I would like to say a big thank you.”
Orsted's Chief Operating Officer, Patrick Harnett, also emphasized the importance of offshore wind for Germany's transition to renewable energy. “Offshore wind is a key technology in Germany's transition to green energy,” he said. “With the completion of Gode Wind 3, Ørsted now has five operational offshore wind farms in the German part of the North Sea, producing homegrown renewable energy at large scale. We'll further expand our supply of green power to German households and businesses when our next offshore wind farm, Borkum Riffgrund 3, comes online in 2026.”
The project's success is also credited to the collaboration between Orsted and Nuveen Infrastructure, as noted by Jordi Francesch, Managing Director of Renewable Energy Investments at Nuveen. “We are thrilled to announce the successful commencement of operations at the Gode Wind 3 Offshore Wind Farm, a landmark achievement in our partnership with Ørsted,” Francesch stated. “This milestone underscores our shared commitment to advancing renewable and independent energy solutions.”
In addition to its operational capacity, the Gode Wind 3 offshore wind farm utilizes innovative installation methods, particularly in the installation of monopile foundations, reducing underwater noise significantly. These turbines, with a rotor diameter of 200 meters, are the largest currently operating in German waters.
The electricity generated by Gode Wind 3 will be transmitted to the German grid via an offshore substation and converter station managed by TenneT, the German transmission system operator. The energy produced will be integrated into the extra-high voltage grid in Lower Saxony, Germany, with Orsted continuing operations from their hub in Norden-Norddeich.
Orsted's continued investment in offshore wind power is evident in its substantial share of Germany's offshore wind capacity, with the company now managing almost 20% of the country's total offshore wind energy production.
With Gode Wind 3 now fully operational, the project paves the way for Orsted's upcoming Borkum Riffgrund 3 wind farm, expected to be completed in 2026.
