Rotterdam-based offshore contractor Van Oord has wrapped up the installation of all monopile foundations at the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, a major step forward for one of the largest wind power projects currently under construction in the world.
Located on the Dogger Bank in the central North Sea, the 1.4 GW Sofia Offshore Wind Farm is expected to generate enough electricity to power around 1.2 million UK homes. This milestone highlights the growing role of offshore wind in the UK’s renewable energy mix and the scale at which developers are now building to meet energy transition targets.
The installation was carried out using the offshore wind installation vessel Aeolus, part of Van Oord’s specialist fleet designed for complex marine construction work. The vessel’s deployment on this project underscores its reputation for efficiency and precision in demanding offshore environments.
Van Oord’s scope on Sofia includes the full engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) package for both wind turbine foundations and array cables. With the foundation phase now complete, focus has shifted to the laying and burial of roughly 360 kilometres of array cables, a job that is expected to wrap up by the third quarter of 2025.
Roeland Ris, Project Director at Van Oord, credited the milestone to strong teamwork and coordination: “I am very proud that we have reached this significant milestone on the Sofia project. The project comes with its challenges, but I’m especially proud that we completed the foundation installation safely and diligently. This achievement reflects the dedication and professionalism of the project team and great cooperation with all partners involved.”
Once fully operational in 2026, Sofia will stand as a key contributor to the UK’s renewable energy capacity, reflecting both the engineering ambition and logistical complexity behind today’s large-scale offshore wind developments.
