The North Sea has seen several new wind projects being planned or even commissioned over the past few years, and now, Germany’s Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm is set to join the list of new wind projects in the region. Wind energy can drastically reduce emissions while still providing a stable energy supply. Decarbonizing the international energy market has become a top priority for the global market, with several nations reaffirming their commitments to clean energy generation at the recent G20 Summit in South Africa.
Germany’s Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm reaches a landmark achievement
Germany is one of the nations around the world accelerating the adoption of the renewable energy sector. The nation now has one of the largest allocations of energy from renewable energy resources in Europe. And the evidence would suggest that this is only the start for the Germans, as the Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm delivered its first electricity to the German grid recently.
This milestone achievement marks the accelerated adoption of the market in Europe and paves the way for more nations to follow suit. Full commissioning of the wind farm is expected in 2026, setting the stage for a great start to the new year for Germany.
The Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm is located approximately 72 kilometres off the German North Sea coast. The project consists of 83 wind turbines, each rated at 11 MW, and is the first to be built by Danish developer Ørsted in a nation that does not have an offshore substation.
Instead, the energy generated is fed to the national grid via a 66 kV direct connection that links the turbines to the DolWin epsilon offshore converter platform, which is owned and operated by German company TenneT.
“With first power produced at Borkum Riffgrund 3, we’re taking a major step towards completion of this large-scale project. We’re now focused on commissioning all remaining wind turbines – so we can start full commercial operation in Q1 2026, thereby contributing a significant amount of additional electricity from offshore wind to the German grid,” – Felix Gschnell, Programme Director for Borkum Riffgrund 3 at Ørsted
The project has secured long-term power purchase agreements with some huge customers
Notably, Amazon and BASF have agreed to long-term power purchasing agreements with Germany to benefit from the astonishing levels of energy produced by the Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm, ensuring supply and price stability.
The reality is that the project will significantly contribute to the German grid while ensuring a new future of renewable energy generation in a world that has become weary of the traditional oil and gas sectors.
Germany has also been boosting the standing of the wind power sector through its new 77 MW Schneifelhöhe wind project, which was awarded to Nordex as the preferred supplier of the necessary wind turbines.
“Offshore wind will play a key role in securing European energy independence and manufacturing jobs. Borkum Riffgrund 3 is a prime example of both. The project has been constructed by European companies, creating local manufacturing jobs. And, once completed, it will produce the same amount of electricity that a large city uses every year.” – Patrick Harnett, Chief Construction Officer at Ørsted
The project highlights the efficiency of the European supply chain
The Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm exemplifies the significant efficiency and potential of the European supply chain. The turbines for the project were constructed in Germany, the necessary electricity cables were manufactured in Germany and France, and the installation vessels used came from the Netherlands and Belgium. The project comes as Germany is repowering the Fleetmark wind project with eight new turbines, exemplifying the nation’s positive feelings towards the sector.
