German asset manager Luxcara is planning to replace previously reserved Mingyang turbines with Siemens Gamesa units for its up to 300-megawatt Waterkant offshore wind project in the German North Sea, the company said on Monday.
The developer has now reserved 19 Siemens Gamesa 15.5MW turbines for Waterkant as part of a broader agreement covering 97 turbines for the nearby 1.5GW Waterekke project. Luxcara said the potential shift is aimed at improving operational and economic efficiency across both sites.
“The considered turbine change in Waterkant has been addressed with the relevant approval authorities and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and the project partners have been informed,” Luxcara said in a statement.
The company originally signed a reservation agreement in 2023 with China’s Mingyang Smart Energy for 16 turbines rated at 18.5MW for the Waterkant site. However, the shift comes amid reported regulatory resistance to the use of non-European turbine technology.
Luxcara stated it “sees potential in bundling procurement processes and contract awards, as well as in joint installation campaigns and coordinated operations” through the use of Siemens Gamesa turbines across both projects.
“Our primary goal is to successfully implement the energy transition,” said Holger Matthiesen, Managing Director of the project companies. “This includes investing in financially sound projects and reliably implementing them with low risk in collaboration with our partners.”
Waterkant, located in zone N-6.7 within Germany’s Exclusive Economic Zone, is expected to be connected to the national grid by the end of 2028, supplying clean electricity to up to 400,000 households. The adjacent 1.5GW Waterekke project, located in zone N-9.3, is scheduled for grid connection in 2029.
Luxcara said the Siemens Gamesa agreement marks a milestone for Waterekke and may offer synergies if extended to the Waterkant site. “This would enable us to coordinate the development, construction, and operation of both projects more closely,” Matthiesen added.
The move reflects a broader trend in the offshore wind sector toward consolidation of supply chains and project operations to reduce costs and mitigate regulatory risks.
