Borkum Riffgrund 3 : First wind turbine installed at offshore German wind farm

In a landmark development for renewable energy, Borkum Riffgrund 3, set to be the largest offshore wind farm in Germany, has successfully installed its first wind turbine. Managed jointly by Ørsted and Nuveen Infrastructure, this 913 MW project represents a significant step forward in Germany’s green transformation. Notably, Borkum Riffgrund 3 is distinguished as the first offshore wind farm globally to secure an auction without subsidies, a testament to its financial viability and strategic partnerships through corporate power purchase agreements (CPPAs).

Borkum Riffgrund 3’s achievement follows the initial power delivery from the 253 MW Gode Wind 3 Offshore Wind Farm, also a collaborative effort between Ørsted and Nuveen Infrastructure. These projects collectively are set to nearly double Ørsted’s offshore wind capacity in Germany, significantly bolstering the country’s renewable energy infrastructure. The wind farm, expected to be fully operational by 2025, lies about 72 km off the coast of Lower Saxony, covering an area of approximately 75 km².

Ørsted is currently executing the largest construction pipeline in its history, with about 7.6 GW of offshore wind under construction across three continents. This includes the 2.8 GW Hornsea 3 in the UK, poised to be the world’s largest single offshore wind farm. In the US, Ørsted recently celebrated installing the first foundation at its 704 MW Revolution Wind farm off the East Coast.

Borkum Riffgrund 3, set to be Germany’s largest offshore wind farm, is pioneering renewable energy with innovative technology and strategic corporate partnerships.

Peter Obling, Head of Continental Europe at Ørsted, emphasized the project’s global and local significance:

“Borkum Riffgrund 3 is an icebreaker in offshore wind. It was the first offshore wind project in the world to be awarded on a merchant basis, and it’s the first offshore wind farm in Germany to break the 900 MW-mark. I’m proud to see that the first turbine is now installed, and we look forward to completing this milestone project.”

Jordi Francesch, Managing Director of Renewable Energy Investments at Nuveen Infrastructure, also shared his enthusiasm:

“We are delighted that Nuveen Infrastructure is, alongside Ørsted, at the forefront of the decarbonization of the German electricity market with the exciting milestone of the first turbine being installed in Borkum Riffgrund 3, the largest offshore wind farm once in operation in Germany, which is a true testament of our ability to successfully manage large and complex projects that will drive acceleration of energy transition.”

A noteworthy innovation in Borkum Riffgrund 3 is its absence of an offshore substation (OSS). Instead, the wind turbines are directly connected via 66 kV connection cables to the DolWin epsilon offshore converter platform, operated by TenneT. This novel approach enhances efficiency and reduces infrastructure complexity.

The strategic CPPAs with major industrial and technology customers, including Amazon, BASF, and Google, underline the economic viability and environmental impact of Borkum Riffgrund 3. These agreements not only secure long-term revenue streams for Ørsted but also provide price stability for the consumers, facilitating a smoother transition to renewable energy sources.