Vattenfall begins construction of Germany’s largest offshore wind farm

Swedish group Vattenfall has approved the final investment for two major offshore projects in the North Sea, with construction scheduled to start in 2026 and operations expected by 2028.

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.

Energy company Vattenfall AB has confirmed the final investment decision for the offshore wind farms Nordlicht 1 and 2, located in the German sector of the North Sea. Construction is set to begin in 2026, marking a key step in the company’s offshore wind development strategy. Upon commissioning in 2028, Nordlicht 1 will become the largest offshore wind project ever undertaken in Germany, with a net capacity exceeding 1.6 gigawatts.

A strategic partnership with BASF to secure supply

Vattenfall has also announced the repurchase of shares held by German chemical group BASF SE in the Nordlicht cluster. This transaction forms part of an extended collaboration agreement, securing BASF long-term access to renewable electricity. The supply will support its chemical production facilities in Europe, as demand for low-carbon energy continues to grow.

The turbines for both projects will incorporate towers made with low-emission steel, reducing the overall carbon footprint of the structures by approximately 16 percent. This approach aligns with Vattenfall’s industrial policy to limit the environmental impact of its operations.

A permit-dependent project for Nordlicht 2

While the investment decision for Nordlicht 1 has been fully confirmed, that of Nordlicht 2 remains subject to receipt of the necessary regulatory permits. Administrative procedures are ongoing, and no specific timeline has been disclosed for the remaining approvals.

The development of the Nordlicht cluster forms part of a broader wave of European investment in renewable energy, aimed at meeting the rising demand for non-fossil electricity across the continent. The project requires coordination with several industrial suppliers, although Vattenfall has yet to reveal the names of the companies involved in the supply chain.

Indian wind turbine manufacturer Suzlon has secured an 838 MW contract from Tata Power Renewable Energy for a wind project spanning three states, marking its largest order of the 2025–2026 fiscal year.
With 816 MW of capacity and 140 turbines, Colbún’s Horizonte wind farm launched its commercial phase in early September after a gradual deployment over several months.
VSB Germany is developing over 800 megawatts of wind, solar, and storage projects, with 20% originating from repowering, confirming an investment strategy focused on optimising existing assets.
Danish group Ørsted will raise new funds through a rights issue to strengthen its financial structure and cover needs linked to the full ownership of the Sunrise Wind project.
Norway has received two bids for offshore sites in the Utsira Nord zone, marking a key step in the country’s floating wind development.
EDP Renováveis has completed the sale of twelve operational wind farms in France and Belgium to Amundi Transition Energétique for an enterprise value of €200mn ($215mn).
Octopus Energy has signed a strategic agreement with Ming Yang Smart Energy to deploy up to 6 GW of wind projects in the UK, combining software technology and turbines to boost local capacity.
The US government has requested the judicial cancellation of the federal permit granted in 2024 for an offshore wind project, citing impacts on commercial fishing and maritime rescue operations.
Vattenfall commits new investment to the Clashindarroch II onshore wind project, a 63MW site in Scotland set to begin construction in 2026 and deliver first power in 2027.
Alerion Clean Power enters the Irish market through the acquisition of an onshore wind farm in County Tipperary, as part of its 2025–2028 industrial plan.
Driven by China's acceleration, global wind capacity is expected to reach 170 GW in 2025, paving the way for a doubling of installed capacity by 2032.
Ocean Winds reaches a new milestone with the installation of the first foundation at the Dieppe – Le Tréport offshore wind farm, which will comprise 62 turbines supplying nearly 850,000 people.
Pennavel and BrestPort strengthen their partnership around the South Brittany floating wind project, aiming to structure industrial operations from 2030 at the EMR terminal of the port of Brest.
Van Oord has completed the installation of 109 inter-array cables at the Sofia offshore wind farm, marking a major logistical milestone for this North Sea energy infrastructure project.
Italian producer ERG will supply 1.2 TWh of energy to Rete Ferroviaria Italiana starting in October, marking a step forward in structuring the national PPA market.
The Chinese turbine manufacturer has signed a strategic agreement with Mensis Enerji to develop an initial 4.5 GW wind power portfolio in Turkey, strengthening its position in a fast-growing regional market.
The Trump administration plans to revoke federal approval of the New England Wind project, jeopardising offshore wind contracts representing 2,600 MW of capacity off the northeastern US coast.
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.

Log in to read this article

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