Vattenfall has taken a significant step forward in its Nordlicht offshore wind farm project, securing contracts with EEW SPC, CS Wind Offshore, DEME, and Jan De Nul. The deals mark a critical phase in the development of the massive renewable energy project, located 85 kilometers north of Borkum in the German North Sea.
EEW SPC has been tasked with delivering 112 monopiles for Nordlicht 1 and 2. The 980MW Nordlicht 1 will be supported by 68 monopiles, while the 630MW Nordlicht 2 will stand on 44 foundations. Production will take place at EEW’s Rostock site, processing approximately 141,000 tonnes of steel, with each monopile measuring 10 meters in diameter. The manufacturing phase is expected to run from late 2025 to mid-2027.
“For more than a decade, we at Vattenfall have put our trust in EEW to produce and deliver monopiles for a number of our wind farms,” said Cyril Moss, Executive Project Director for the Nordlicht cluster at Vattenfall. “On Nordlicht, we will again rely on their expertise and dedication to meet our requirements and to enable us to deliver on our renewable energy commitments and on the next phase of Germany’s energy transition.”
CS Wind Offshore has secured contracts to manufacture 112 transition pieces, vital components that connect wind turbines to their foundations. Production of these elements, 68 for Nordlicht 1 and 44 for Nordlicht 2, is set to begin in 2025 at CS Wind’s Port of Aalborg facility in Denmark.
“The transition pieces are a vital component of the Nordlicht wind farms, ensuring the seamless integration of turbines and foundations,” said Mats Vikholm, Vattenfall’s head of project delivery and engineering. “By partnering with CS Wind Offshore, we are securing high-quality solutions that align with our commitment to delivering reliable, renewable energy for millions of households.”
In the offshore construction phase, DEME has been contracted to handle the transport and installation of all 112 foundations, in addition to providing scour protection at both Nordlicht sites. Meanwhile, Jan De Nul will oversee the installation of 196 kilometers of inter-array cables, which will interconnect the 112 turbines and transmit electricity efficiently across the wind farm.
The Nordlicht offshore wind project is scheduled for commissioning in 2028. Once fully operational, it is expected to generate enough renewable energy to power over 1.7 million German households, contributing significantly to Germany’s clean energy goals. Offshore construction for Nordlicht 1 and 2 is anticipated to begin in 2026, following a final investment decision in 2025.
This large-scale wind project represents a major development for the project logistics and breakbulk sectors. With extensive steel fabrication, specialized offshore installation work, and complex cable-laying operations, Nordlicht presents a wealth of opportunities for heavy-lift shipping, transport engineering, and marine logistics.
