An illustration of Van Oord's offshore installation vessel 'Boreas'. Image credit: Van Oord
Van Oord, a leading Dutch maritime contractor, has been named the preferred supplier for the transport and installation of foundations for the 1.6 GW Nordseecluster wind project in Germany. This ambitious project is a joint venture between RWE and Northland Power, aiming to provide green electricity to 1.6 million German households each year starting in 2029. The announcement was made at the WindEurope exhibition in Copenhagen, where the agreement was signed at Van Oord’s booth.
The Nordseecluster project comprises four offshore wind farms located in the German North Sea, 35 kilometers north of Juist Island and 55 kilometers from the German coast. The close proximity of these sites presents a unique opportunity to create one of Germany’s largest offshore wind farms. The construction process will be executed in two phases, with Van Oord installing a total of 104 extended monopiles, each weighing up to 1,750 tonnes. The installation of 44 foundations is slated for 2025, while the remaining 60 are set for 2027.
This project will mark the debut of Van Oord’s cutting-edge offshore installation vessel, the Boreas. Currently under construction, the 175-meter Boreas is specifically designed for the transport and installation of next-generation foundations and turbines at offshore wind farms. The vessel features an advanced jacking system capable of lifting over 3,000 tonnes and four 126-meter legs that enable it to work in water depths of up to 70 meters. The Boreas also aligns with Van Oord’s sustainability goals, as it is designed to run on methanol, reducing its carbon footprint by more than 78%.
Sven Schulemann, RWE’s Managing Director of the Nordseecluster, lauded the foundation installation contract as a significant milestone for the project.
“We look forward to deploying our brand new offshore installation vessel Boreas on a large scale project like this, which is exactly what the vessel is built for,” said Arnoud Kuis, Managing Director Offshore Wind at Van Oord. “We are proud to be part of this prestigious project and look forward to another successful cooperation with both RWE and Northland Power. By contributing to the realisation of Nordseecluster, Van Oord is again part of a major contribution to the energy transition towards renewable energy.”
Northland Power’s Managing Director of the Nordseecluster, Benjamin Miethling, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration with Van Oord, citing the advantages of bundling procurement activities in the recently signed Preferred Supplier Agreement (PSA).
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