Vattenfall to build Germany’s largest offshore wind farm alone

Swedish group Vattenfall acquires BASF’s stake and initiates a 1,610 MW North Sea wind project on its own, with commissioning expected by 2028.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

Vattenfall AB announced on 25 March that it has made the final investment decision for the offshore wind farms Nordlicht 1 and Nordlicht 2, located approximately 85 kilometres north of the German island of Borkum in the North Sea. This marks the beginning of construction of what the Swedish group states will be the largest offshore wind project ever built in Germany.

Installed capacity and commissioning timeline

Nordlicht 1 will reach a capacity exceeding 980 megawatts (MW), while Nordlicht 2 will contribute 630 MW, bringing the total combined capacity of the project to 1,610 MW. Together, the two sites will host 112 turbines. Vattenfall plans to begin installing the first turbines in 2026, pending regulatory approval still awaited for Nordlicht 2. The entire complex is expected to be fully operational by 2028.

BASF’s stake buyback

As part of the project, Vattenfall will acquire the 49% stake in the project previously held by BASF SE since 2024. The German chemical group announced it will no longer co-finance the construction, resulting in a non-cash disposal loss of €300mn to be recorded in its Q1 2025 financial results. Despite this withdrawal, BASF will remain a partner to Vattenfall through a long-term power purchase agreement for offshore-generated electricity to supply its chemical facilities.

Expected output and energy positioning

Once operational, the Nordlicht complex is expected to produce approximately 6 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity per year. This output represents half the average annual production of a nuclear power plant, a technology Germany fully phased out in 2023.

In 2024, the share of renewable energy in BASF’s electricity consumption reached 26%, up from 20% the previous year. The company, headquartered in Ludwigshafen, aims to source more than 60% of its electricity needs from renewables by 2030.

US wind capacity fell in Q2, but developers anticipate a sharp increase by late 2025, with 46 GW of new capacity forecast by 2029 and a peak in 2027.
Engie has signed a renewable electricity supply contract with Apple covering 173 MW of installed capacity in Italy, with commissioning scheduled between 2026 and 2027.
Renova a soumis une méthodologie d’évaluation environnementale pour un projet éolien terrestre de 280MW à Higashidori, renforçant son positionnement sur les technologies renouvelables au Japon.
The joint venture between BP and JERA ends its offshore wind ambitions in the United States, citing an unfavourable economic and regulatory environment for continuing the development of the Beacon Wind project.
With a 300 MW partnership signed with Nadara, Q ENERGY exceeds 1 GW of wind repowering projects in France, reinforcing its position in a market driven by public investment dynamics.
The acquisition of Cosmic Group by FairWind consolidates its position in Australia and marks a strategic expansion into New Zealand and Japan.
Danish manufacturer Vestas has paused construction of its planned facility in Poland, originally set for 2026, citing weaker-than-expected European offshore wind demand.
British operator Equitix has been selected to take over transmission assets of the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm, a £450mn ($547mn) project awarded under Ofgem’s tenth tender round.
Energiequelle GmbH has launched replacement work for old turbines at its Minden-Hahlen site, aiming for long-term structural maintenance with the installation of three new 200-metre machines.
GE Vernova will equip the Ialomiţa wind farm with 42 turbines of 6.1 MW, strengthening its presence in the European onshore wind sector with a 252 MW project in partnership with Greenvolt.
Eversource Energy posts a one-time $75mn charge linked to unforeseen costs in the Revolution Wind project, while tightening its 2025 earnings forecast.
The Renewables Infrastructure Group has signed a ten-year power purchase agreement with Virgin Media O2 for its onshore wind farms in the United Kingdom, ensuring price stability for both parties.
Eight local associations in Normandy and Hauts-de-France will receive a total of €120,000, financed by revenues from three RWE wind farms, to support public-impact projects in 2025.
CWP Europe formalised two major projects in Albania and Montenegro with backing from the European Commission, reinforcing the Balkans’ integration into the European energy market.
Elawan Energy secured two wind power projects totalling 92MW in Romania through a long-term public contract, strengthening its presence in the region with operations scheduled to begin in 2028.
A study conducted in the Gulf of Lion highlights the risk of collisions between migratory birds and floating wind turbine blades, as the region prepares to host 19 additional turbines by 2031.
Taaleri Energia’s SolarWind III Fund partners with Lords LB Asset Management to develop a 112 MW onshore wind project in Smiltene, scheduled for commissioning in early 2027.
The Dinawan Wind Farm project, first phase of a 1.3 GW energy hub, was selected in the fourth tender round of the Capacity Investment Scheme launched by the Australian Government.
RWE has completed construction of the Kail wind farm, comprising three turbines totalling 12.9 MW, marking its first commissioning in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Ignitis Group has officially submitted its bid to develop a 700 MW offshore wind project in the Baltic Sea, under a Lithuanian state-supported tender scheme.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.