RWE has announced the completion of the installation of all 72 monopile foundations at the 1.1GW Thor offshore wind farm in the Danish North Sea.
The work, carried out for the last five months, represents a key step in the development of Denmark’s largest offshore wind project.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Each monopile foundation measures around 100m long and weighs up to 1,500 tonnes (t).
These were transported from the heavy-lift terminal in Eemshaven, the Netherlands, to the construction site located 22km off Jutland’s west coast.
Jan De Nul, using the vessel ‘Les Alizés,’ executed the installation.
Instead of utilising a monopile foundation with a separate transition piece, extended single monopiles have been installed. Additionally, secondary steel structures such as boat landings will be assembled offshore later this year.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataThe handling of these secondary structures is coordinated from the Danish Port of Thyborøn, where the control centre for managing offshore logistics and marine traffic during the construction phase is located.
To safeguard the monopiles until turbine towers are mounted next year, reusable hard covers are being installed.
Unlike traditional covers that are discarded after use, these covers will increase circularity and reduce waste, aligning with RWE’s focus on sustainable construction practices.
Turbine installation is scheduled to begin in 2026 from the Port of Esbjerg in Denmark.
Thor will be the first offshore wind farm globally to introduce 36 turbine towers manufactured with reduced carbon emissions while integrating recyclable rotor blades on half of the turbines, stated RWE.
Once operational in 2027, the project will supply renewable electricity equivalent to more than one million Danish households.
Ongoing plans also include a new service facility at the Port of Thorsminde, currently under construction and due for completion by late 2025.
The building will serve as the base for operations and maintenance activities, creating between 50 and 60 local jobs.
With a final capacity of 1,080MW, the Thor offshore wind farm is being developed as a joint venture between RWE, holding 51%, and Norges Bank Investment Management, holding 49%.
RWE offshore wind chief technology officer Tobias Keitel said: “Together with our partner, Norges Bank Investment Management, we are well on track with the construction of Thor – Denmark’s largest offshore wind farm to date.
“The safe installation of the monopiles is testament to the expertise, dedication and collaboration of the entire team involved.”
RWE is responsible for the construction and long-term operations of the Thor offshore wind farm throughout the project life cycle.
