Germany has officially commenced construction on the Nordseecluster, a monumental 1.6-gigawatt (GW) offshore wind farm designed to power approximately 1.6 million German households. This significant step towards green energy independence saw the installation of the first monopile foundation on July 28, 2025, marking a critical milestone for what is currently the largest offshore wind project off the German coast.
The Nordseecluster is a collaborative effort between RWE (51%) and Norges Bank Investment Management (49%), with RWE overseeing the construction and operation of the wind farms throughout their lifecycle. The project is located approximately 50 kilometers north of the island of Juist in the German North Sea, an area designated for offshore wind development.
Phased Development for Maximum Impact
The Nordseecluster will be developed in two distinct phases:
Nordseecluster A: First Power by 2027
The initial phase, Nordseecluster A, will have a total capacity of 660 megawatts (MW). Construction at sea began in the summer of 2025 with the installation of the first foundations. The installation of the 44 Vestas V236-15.0 MW wind turbines is anticipated to start in 2026, with full commercial operation projected to begin in early 2027.
Nordseecluster B: Completing the Gigawatt Scale by 2029
Following Nordseecluster A, the second expansion stage, Nordseecluster B, will contribute an additional 900 MW through its 60 wind turbines. Commercial operation for this phase is scheduled to commence in early 2029, bringing the total capacity of the Nordseecluster to 1.6 GW.
Innovative Monopile Technology
A key aspect of the Nordseecluster’s construction is the use of extended single monopiles rather than a traditional monopile foundation topped with a separate transition piece. This “transition piece-less” design significantly reduces the overall amount of steel required for the project, promoting efficiency and sustainability. Each monopile foundation measures 85 meters in length and weighs approximately 1,500 metric tons, equivalent to the weight of about 1,000 small cars. These massive components are being shipped from the heavy-lift terminal in Eemshaven, the Netherlands, to the construction site by Van Oord’s new offshore installation vessel, Boreas.
Germany’s Growing Offshore Wind Ambitions
The Nordseecluster project is a testament to Germany’s commitment to expanding its offshore wind energy capacity. As of June 30, 2025, Germany had 1,639 offshore wind turbines with a total capacity of 9.2 GW connected to its grid. An additional 1.9 GW are currently under construction, with a further 3.6 GW having received a final investment decision and 17.5 GW awarded contracts.
Other notable offshore wind projects in Germany include:
- Arcadis Ost 1: This 257 MW offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea, developed by Parkwind, was fully commissioned on December 5, 2023, and can power approximately 290,000 households.
- Baltic Eagle: Iberdrola’s second major offshore wind project in the Baltic Sea, with a capacity of 476 MW, is expected to supply renewable energy to 475,000 households. Turbine installation for Baltic Eagle began in May 2024.
- Gode Wind 3 and Borkum Riffgrund 3: Developed by Ørsted and Nuveen Infrastructure, Gode Wind 3 (253 MW) was fully commissioned on February 28, 2025, and powers 250,000 households. Borkum Riffgrund 3, with a capacity of 913 MW, is estimated to be operational in 2025 and, along with Gode Wind 3, can power at least 1.2 million families.
- Gennaker Offshore Wind Farm: Located in the German Baltic Sea, this 976.5 MW project by Skyborn Renewables is expected to supply green electricity to approximately one million people, with offshore installation of its 63 wind turbines planned to commence in 2028.
- Nordlicht 1 & 2: Vattenfall’s Nordlicht 1 is set to become Germany’s largest offshore wind farm with a 1.6 GW capacity, providing clean power to 1.6 million homes. Construction is set to begin in 2026, with full operation expected by 2028.
The German government has set an ambitious target to maintain the expansion of offshore wind energy to 70 GW by 2045, highlighting the critical role of offshore wind in the nation’s energy transition.
