RWE has taken a significant step forward in the development of its 1,600 MW Nordseecluster offshore wind project with the arrival of the first eight foundations at the Dutch base port of Eemshaven. The foundations, each approximately 85 meters long and weighing around 1,500 tonnes, will be used to support the wind turbines and transformer substation for the project.
The foundations, which are being delivered by Dajin Heavy Industry, represent the initial phase of a larger scale-up. This year, a total of 45 monopile foundations are expected to pass through the Buss Terminal in Eemshaven. Of these, one will be designated for the transformer substation, while the remaining 44 will serve to support the 44 wind turbines planned for the Nordseecluster A section of the project.
“With the delivery and safe unloading of the first foundations by Dajin, we have passed an important milestone on the way to building our Nordseecluster,” said Thomas Michel, RWE's Chief Operating Officer for Offshore Wind. “With an overall capacity of around 1.6 gigawatts, it is the largest wind project currently being built off the German coast.”
RWE's commitment to ensuring the success of the project is evident in the resources allocated to the construction process. The port's infrastructure, including more than 260,000 square meters of quay, storage, and traffic areas, will facilitate the handling of these large-scale foundations. Furthermore, the terminal is also supporting RWE's offshore wind initiatives for other projects, including the Danish Thor wind farm and the Dutch OranjeWind project.
The Nordseecluster will be developed in two phases. Nordseecluster A, with a capacity of 660 MW, will feature 44 turbines, while Nordseecluster B will add 900 MW and consist of 60 turbines. Construction is set to begin in summer 2025, with the turbines for Nordseecluster A slated for installation next year. The first phase is expected to be fully connected to the grid by early 2027, while Nordseecluster B is targeted for commercial operations by 2029.
Once completed, the Nordseecluster project is expected to generate enough green electricity to power approximately 1.6 million households.
