The Gode Wind 3 offshore wind farm in the German North Sea has commenced commercial operations, marking a significant step in Germany’s transition to green energy. The project, jointly owned by Ørsted and Nuveen Infrastructure, has an installed capacity of 253 MW, enough to power the equivalent of 250,000 German households.
Gode Wind 3: Location and Development
The Gode Wind 3 wind farm is located approximately 32km northwest of the island of Norderney, within Germany’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the North Sea. It is situated close to Ørsted’s existing Gode Wind 1 and 2 wind farms. The project was initially planned as two separate projects of 110MW and 132MW, which were later merged into a single 253 MW wind farm. The German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) granted planning approval for the project in April 2021. Construction began at sea in August 2023, with the installation of the first foundation. Final testing was completed on February 28, 2025, leading to the start of commercial operations.
Technical Specifications and Components
The Gode Wind 3 offshore wind farm comprises 23 Siemens Gamesa SG 11.0-200 DD wind turbines. Key features of these turbines include:
- Capacity: Each turbine has a capacity of 11 MW.
- Rotor Diameter: A rotor diameter of 200 meters, making it the largest running wind turbine model in German waters.
- Blade Length: Each turbine features 97-meter-long B97 IntegralBlade rotor blades.
- Direct Drive Technology: The turbine design incorporates Siemens Gamesa’s direct drive technology, reducing wear and tear and simplifying maintenance.
- Permanent Magnet Generator: The turbines utilize a permanent magnet generator, eliminating the need for excitation power and enhancing efficiency.
The turbines are mounted on monopile foundations, each approximately 100 meters long and weighing around 1,200 tons.
Power Transmission and Grid Connection
The electricity generated at Gode Wind 3 is transmitted via the wind farm’s own offshore substation to a converter station managed by TenneT, the German transmission system operator (TSO). The power then enters the extra-high voltage grid onshore in the state of Lower Saxony. Ørsted will manage the wind farm’s operations from its hub at the port of Norden-Norddeich in Lower Saxony. For the electricity produced at Gode Wind 3, Ørsted will receive a weighted average price of €81 per MWh.
Environmental Considerations and Innovative Installation Techniques
Ørsted implemented a new, lower-noise installation method for three of the monopile foundations, replacing conventional pile driving. This innovative approach significantly reduces underwater noise levels, minimizing the environmental impact on marine life. Ørsted reports a reduction of 34 decibels relative to the most commonly used installation method. Without additional mitigation, noise levels were reduced by over 99% to a level just marginally above the ambient noise found in the German Bight in the North Sea.
Ownership and Partnerships
The Gode Wind 3 offshore wind farm is co-owned by Ørsted and Nuveen Infrastructure. Ørsted is a Danish energy company and a market leader in offshore wind in Germany, operating almost 20% of the country’s total offshore wind capacity. Nuveen Infrastructure is a global infrastructure investment manager with over USD 30 billion in assets under management.
Contributions to Germany’s Energy Transition
The Gode Wind 3 wind farm is Ørsted’s fifth operational offshore wind farm in Germany. Ørsted can now supply the equivalent of approximately 1.6 million households in Germany with renewable electricity from offshore wind alone. The completion of Gode Wind 3 marks a significant step towards Germany’s goal of transitioning to green energy.
