en.Wedoany.com Reported - German energy company RWE's Nordseecluster A offshore wind project has reached a key milestone: approximately six weeks after the installation of the first turbine, one turbine has begun feeding electricity into the German transmission grid. The first construction phase of the project has an installed capacity of 660 megawatts and is scheduled to be fully operational by early 2027.
The Nordseecluster, located about 50 kilometers north of the German island of Juist in the North Sea, is progressing smoothly. Nordseecluster A comprises a total of 44 offshore wind turbines, with installation work underway and gradually entering the testing and commissioning phase. The generated electricity is transmitted via two offshore substations to the grid operator's converter platform, from where it is further fed into the German onshore grid.
The Nordseecluster is being developed in two phases, with a total installed capacity expected to reach 1,560 megawatts upon full completion. Following the first phase, Nordseecluster A (660 MW), the second phase, Nordseecluster B, will add a further 900 MW. Production of key components for the second phase has already commenced, with foundation installation planned for 2027, and 60 Vestas offshore wind turbines to be installed in 2028. Nordseecluster B is scheduled to become operational in early 2029.
According to RWE, once fully built, the cluster is expected to generate approximately 6.5 terawatt-hours (6.5 billion kilowatt-hours) of electricity annually, enough to meet the yearly electricity needs of about 1.6 million households. A portion of the output has already been secured through long-term power purchase agreements: Amazon has signed an agreement to purchase 110 MW of power from Nordseecluster B.
The Nordseecluster is being developed in the German North Sea Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), approximately 50 kilometers north of the island of Juist. The project comprises four sites, NC 1 through NC 4, which are being developed jointly due to their geographical proximity. By bundling construction and securing key supply and installation contracts, the project aims to achieve economies of scale and optimize costs and construction timelines.
The offshore wind project is being jointly developed by RWE (51% stake) and Norges Bank Investment Management (49% stake), with RWE responsible for the construction and operation of the wind farm. Upon full completion, the project will install at least 104 Vestas V236-15.0 MW offshore wind turbines, with a total capacity of 1,560 megawatts.
