RWE has confirmed the first wind turbine has been installed at the Thor offshore windfarm in Denmark, signalling the transition from preparation work to full offshore installation. The build is being supported from the Port of Esbjerg, with Fred Olsen Windcarrier’s installation vessel Brave Tern carrying out transport and installation cycles designed to place three turbines per trip.

 

Turbine Supply and Installation Plan Through 2026

 

The project will install 72 Siemens Gamesa turbines by the end of 2026, with each unit rated up to 15 MW and based on the SG 14-236 DD platform. The scale of the turbine package indicates a focus on maximising output per foundation and reducing the number of installed units needed to reach gigawatt-class capacity, a key driver of cost and schedule efficiency in modern offshore wind construction.

 

Low Carbon Towers and Recyclable Blades in the Hardware Mix

 

Thor is positioned as the first offshore windfarm globally to use steel turbine towers manufactured by Siemens Gamesa with a low carbon footprint, signalling a push to reduce embedded emissions in the supply chain rather than focusing only on operational generation. Some turbines will also use recyclable rotor blades, a step aimed at improving end-of-life options and reducing the long-term waste burden associated with large composite components.

 

Read more: EU Unveils Maritime and Ports Industrial Strategies to Reinforce Competitiveness, Security and the Green Transition

 

Site Location, Capacity and Power Contribution

 

Thor is being built about 22 kilometres off Thorsminde on the west coast of Jutland and will exceed 1 GW of installed capacity when complete, making it Denmark’s largest offshore windfarm. Once fully operational in 2027, the project is expected to generate enough electricity to cover the annual consumption equivalent of more than one million Danish households, reinforcing its role as a major contributor to Denmark’s renewable power system.

 

Local Operations Base and Project Partnership Structure

 

RWE says a service facility at the Port of Thorsminde will support operations and is expected to create around 50 to 60 jobs. The project is being developed with Norges Bank Investment Management as a joint venture partner, reflecting the continued role of long-term institutional capital in financing large offshore wind assets with multi-decade operating lives.