Nordseecluster offshore wind farm: contract between DeepOcean and RWE

DeepOcean has been chosen as the main supplier for the subsea installation of RWE's Nordseecluster A project, consisting of four offshore wind farms totaling 1.6 GW, with responsibility for installing the inter-grid cables and other marine works. Work is scheduled to start in 2026, subject to the final investment decision.

Share:

RWE has appointed ocean services provider DeepOcean as the preferred supplier of subsea installation services for the development of the Nordseecluster A offshore wind farm off the German coast.

Nordseecluster project: 1.6 GW of offshore wind power to supply 1.6 million German households

The Nordseecluster combines four wind farms in Germany’s eastern North Sea into a 1.6 GW project, comprising a minimum of 104 wind turbines. By early 2029, when all four wind farms are in operation, the turbines will be able to generate enough green electricity each year to power 1.6 million German homes.

The Nordseecluster will be developed in two phases. The two Nordseecluster A wind farms (N-3.8 and N-3.7), with a total capacity of 660 megawatts (MW), are currently in the permit application phase. Two further wind farms (N-3.6 and N-3.5) in the second phase (Nordseecluster B) will add a further 900 MW of capacity.

Under the agreement, DeepOcean will be responsible for the preparatory work, transport and installation of all inter-network cables. This also includes trenching, connections and terminations for the initial construction phase. DeepOcean will install a total of 185 kilometers of 66kV aluminum and copper cable, starting with the 44 offshore wind turbines of Nordseecluster A.

DeepOcean wins major contract for RWE’s Nordseecluster A subsea installation

“This is an important contract for us. We have helped RWE in the past, and we will use our decades of experience in similar subsea work to deliver the Nordseecluster to RWE’s high quality standards. We will take responsibility for a wide range of works, enabling us to ensure the best possible project design and to exploit operational synergies and cost savings between the different work packages,” says Normann Vikse, DeepOcean’s Director of Offshore Renewables.

DeepOcean’s mission encompasses various aspects of the project. It covers project management and engineering, as well as offshore preparation work. This includes pre-installation cable route studies, route engineering and burial assessment, offshore trenching and boulder relocation. It also involves preparation work for offshore foundations and substations. The transport and installation of inter-network cables are also part of the mission, including burial, pulling, monitoring and testing. Finally, activities include surveys and monitoring of the seabed.

Sven Schulemann, Managing Director of Nordseecluster: “We are delighted to have signed with DeepOcean as the latest main supplier for the installation of the cables for Nordseecluster A. This is another important step in the implementation of this large-scale project. We are convinced that DeepOcean is the right partner for us”.

DeepOcean selected for RWE’s Nordseecluster A project, awaiting final investment decision

DeepOcean has not communicated the value of the contract, subject to RWE’s final investment decisions (FID). Once the final investment decision has been made, DeepOcean will mobilize a complete engineering, project management and planning team.

DeepOcean will provide three vessels – one installation, one trenching and one workboat – to carry out the work. Offshore installation work for Nordseecluster A is scheduled for 2026.

“We are very keen to support RWE’s plans for Nordseecluster, where the merger of the four sites offers attractive economies of scale and enables the supply chain to plan and take advantage of synergies reliably. The award of the contract for the initial phase, and the opportunity to provide our services for Nordseecluster B, will enable us to significantly reduce the risks associated with project execution. This is a risk reduction measure that will benefit both RWE and us, the suppliers,” says Øyvind Mikaelsen, CEO of DeepOcean.

In recent years, DeepOcean has applied its skills in subsea engineering and project management. These extend to a range of ocean industries, including renewable energies, oil, gas, subsea minerals and recycling. In all these sectors, the Group offers marine services: seabed surveys, engineering, project management, installation, inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR).

VALEMO, the French energy maintenance company, will lead the remote supervision of the Yeu-Noirmoutier offshore wind farm, bringing its expertise to the ongoing management of marine electricity production infrastructure and equipment.
Opdenergy acquires thirteen new wind farms in Spain for a total capacity of 440 MW, strengthening its international presence and portfolio through a major asset transfer operation in the sector.
The Sonnenberg V project marks a new milestone with the signing of a cooperation agreement between ENERTRAG and EBERT for the renewal and expansion of a 235 MW wind farm in Saxony-Anhalt. —
OX2 acquires a 34-turbine wind project in the Dalarna region, representing 14% of the county’s electricity consumption, marking a step forward in its commercial collaborations with Eolus and Dala Vind.
Nordex Group records a significant jump in profitability and order intake, reaching EUR 2.3 bn in the second quarter of 2025, confirming its financial trajectory with a positive free cash flow.
German manufacturer ENERCON is investing up to €30 mn in expanding its Aurich site, with public financial backing to boost the ramp-up of its new turbines designed for the onshore wind market.
The Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm, with a capacity of 450 megawatts, comes online off the coast of Scotland, mobilising GBP200 mn ($259 mn) in public and private investment for the region.
The British government is increasing by 11% the guaranteed price for offshore wind electricity to support projects facing inflation and supply chain constraints.
DP Energy plans to build a 1,400 MW wind farm near Julia Creek, supported by an energy storage system, enhancing industrial momentum and supply prospects in northern Queensland.
Equinor announces a significant impairment on its offshore wind project Empire Wind, due to regulatory changes and tariffs, affecting its quarterly results.
Shandong Electric Power Construction Corporation No. 3 (SEPCO3) has signed an EPC contract for the construction of the 700 MW Yanbu wind energy project under Saudi Arabia's National Renewable Energy Program.
The 17 MW floating wind turbine prototype, the most powerful in the world, was launched in China, marking a significant advancement in offshore turbine manufacturing and supporting the development of deep-sea offshore wind power.
RWE has inaugurated the Mondonuovo wind farm in Italy, a 53.1 MW facility capable of powering 55,000 Italian households. This project marks a key milestone in the development of renewable energy in Italy.
Swiss company Wysenergy has secured public funding for its first wind project in France, located in the municipality of Faux-Fresnay and selected under the PPE2 tender scheme.
Energy supplier OVO plans to invest several hundred million pounds in the renovation of British wind farms, aiming to increase national capacity and accelerate the country’s energy transition.
Danish group Cadeler has taken early delivery of the Wind Keeper, its eighth vessel, now tied to a three-year contract with Vestas worth a firm EUR210m ($228m), including additional options.
bp has announced the sale of its US onshore wind operations to LS Power, strengthening the American group’s 21GW portfolio and continuing its global asset divestment strategy.
Dstgroup, through its subsidiary dstventures, invests €1.5mn ($1.62mn) in Gazelle Wind Power and commits to building the structures for the Nau Azul project, marking progress for the floating wind industry in Portugal.
German group wpd takes over the teams and a portfolio of 17 wind projects from Calycé, consolidating its position in the French market and expanding its regional presence, particularly in the Grand Est, with the support of Envinergy.
SPIE Wind Connect partners with Van Oord to connect and test 21 high-voltage cables for the Windanker offshore wind farm, marking a key milestone in the development of Germany’s offshore wind sector.