RWE sells 49% stake in two offshore wind projects to Norges Bank for €1.4bn

Norges Bank Investment Management has finalised the acquisition of stakes in RWE's German and Danish projects, representing 2.6 GW of planned installed capacity by 2029.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90€/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90€/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 €/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99€/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 €/year from the second year.

RWE AG has confirmed the sale of a 49% stake in two of its major offshore wind projects to Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) for approximately €1.4bn ($1.52bn). The transaction includes the Nordseecluster project off the German coast and the Thor project off the Danish coast, with a combined capacity of 2.68 gigawatts (GW).

RWE retains a majority 51% stake and remains responsible for the construction and operation of both wind farms. NBIM, the manager of Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, thereby adds two projects to its portfolio, forming one of the largest offshore wind asset packages currently under development in Europe.

Two high-yield energy projects

Located approximately 50 kilometres north of Juist Island, the Nordseecluster project is being developed in two phases. The first, called Nordseecluster A, has a planned capacity of 660 megawatts (MW) and is scheduled to be commissioned in 2027. The second phase, Nordseecluster B, with a capacity of 900 MW, is expected by 2029. At full output, the site is anticipated to supply electricity to around 1.6 million German households.

The Danish Thor project, under construction 22 kilometres off the coast of Jutland, is set to become the country’s largest offshore wind farm. With a projected installed capacity of 1,080 MW and full commissioning planned for 2027, it could supply over one million Danish households.

Ongoing logistics and construction

Construction work is progressing according to schedule. For Thor, installation of monopile foundations has already commenced off the Danish coast. Regarding Nordseecluster A, the first structures have been delivered to the marshalling port in Eemshaven, Netherlands. Installation is planned to begin in summer 2025.

Both projects are scheduled to begin turbine installation in 2026. These steps mark a key milestone in the execution timeline as partners aim to maintain steady progress toward full commissioning.

Strategic positioning in offshore wind

RWE AG currently operates 19 offshore wind farms and continues to expand with multiple projects across Europe. In addition to Nordseecluster and Thor, the German company is constructing the Sofia project in the United Kingdom and OranjeWind in the Netherlands, the latter with a 50% stake.

“Through this partnership, we are pooling resources to deliver large-scale projects,” said RWE Chief Executive Officer Markus Krebber at the announcement of the deal. The partnership with NBIM reinforces institutional backing for offshore wind development across strategic European markets.

Orsted and two U.S. states have taken federal legal action to contest the abrupt halt of the Revolution Wind project, a $5 billion offshore venture now at risk of prolonged suspension.
SPIE Wind Connect will carry out subsea connections for phase II of the TPC project, a major development in Taiwan’s offshore wind sector with a projected annual capacity of 1,000 GWh.
Envision Energy launches its first project in Turkey in partnership with Yildizlar Group, adding 232 MW to the national wind capacity in Karaman province.
ABO Energy maintains its annual targets despite a drop in half-year profit, relying on cost-cutting measures and early project sales to secure cash flow.
Energiekontor has closed financing for two wind projects in Verden, with a combined 94 MW, with construction starting this year and commissioning scheduled for 2027.
South Korea has rejected all projects using foreign turbines in its 2025 offshore wind auction, marking a strategic shift in favour of local industry and energy security.
The Danish Energy Agency confirmed the rejection of 37 feasibility study permit applications, citing European Union state aid rules and lack of competition.
With an AUD$3 billion investment, ACEN launches one of Tasmania’s largest private projects, aiming for commissioning in 2030 and annual supply for 500,000 households.
In France, a 12.9 MW wind farm financed by local actors has been commissioned in Martigné-Ferchaud, showcasing an unprecedented model of shared governance between citizens, local authorities and public investment companies.
The governors of five states urged the Trump administration to maintain permits for threatened offshore wind projects, citing massive investments and jobs at stake in a nascent industry.
Green Wind Renewables is developing a 450 MW wind farm in the Wheatbelt region of Australia, with up to 75 turbines and an estimated annual output of 1.5 TWh.
German group RWE has commissioned five new power plants in France, adding 83 MW to its portfolio, following repeated successes in tenders organised by the Energy Regulatory Commission.
The 600 MW onshore wind farm in Laos achieves commercial operation four months early, injecting power into Vietnam via a 500 kV interconnection and consolidating an international financing package of $950mn.
Equinor confirms its participation in Ørsted’s capital increase, aiming to maintain its 10% stake and support the financial stability of the Danish group facing headwinds in offshore wind.
Chinese manufacturer Dongfang Electric has installed a 26 MW offshore wind turbine in Shandong province, setting a double world record for power and rotor diameter.
Facing unforeseen cost increases and a tightening regulatory environment, Mitsubishi Corporation is pulling out of three offshore wind projects, casting doubt on Japan's renewable energy ambitions.
With 323 millions USD in cash, Polenergia strengthens its investments in offshore wind, solar and storage, targeting more than 2.3 GW of new energy capacity in Poland.
French group Valorem has commissioned the ViIatti wind complex in Finland, made up of two farms totalling 313 MW and an estimated annual output of 1 TWh.
The Revolution Wind project, already 80% complete, has been halted by the U.S. administration over national security concerns, creating major uncertainty in the sector.
Quebec funds a mobile training unit to address the shortage of wind turbine maintenance technicians, estimated at 400 positions by 2029.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.