Haizea Wind Group has commenced manufacturing monopiles for the Norfolk Vanguard West offshore wind farm in the United Kingdom, marking the start of steel cutting at its facilities in the Port of Bilbao. The milestone was commemorated with a visit from part of the project team to the Bilbao plant, where the first steel cut was performed.

Third Consecutive Contract at Bilbao Since 2024 Inauguration

The Norfolk Vanguard West contract represents the third consecutive monopile manufacturing agreement executed at Haizea Wind Group's Bilbao port facilities since they were inaugurated in 2024.

The first contract awarded at the site was for the East Anglia 3 project on behalf of ScottishPower, a subsidiary of Iberdrola. That was followed by an ongoing supply contract for the Hornsea 3 project, developed by Danish energy group Ørsted.

The Norfolk Vanguard West contract, the latest in the sequence, adds a third major European energy developer to the roster of clients relying on the Bilbao facility for large-scale offshore foundation components.

The company said the three successive contracts, awarded by three of the leading energy developers in Europe, support what it described as the strength and long-term sustainability of the Haizea project and further consolidate its role as a strategic partner within the European wind supply chain.

Project Scale and UK Energy Context

Norfolk Vanguard West has a generating capacity of 1.4 gigawatts and is being developed as part of a cluster alongside a companion project, Vanguard East. Once both projects are fully operational, the combined installed capacity of the Vanguard West and East complex is expected to reach 2.8 gigawatts. According to Haizea Wind Group, the combined development could supply renewable power to more than 2.5 million British households.

Monopiles are steel structures installed on the seabed to support the foundations of offshore wind turbines, and they represent one of the most technically demanding components in the offshore wind manufacturing supply chain, particularly as turbine sizes continue to increase.

Capability in XXL Components for High-Capacity Turbines

Haizea Wind Group stated that it holds a global leadership position in the manufacture of monopiles for wind turbines exceeding 15 megawatts in generating capacity, a position it attributed to the expansion of its Bilbao facilities. The company's CEO, Borja Zárraga, pointed to the facility's technological capabilities as a competitive differentiator.

"We are very proud to be part of this project," Zárraga said. "Haizea plays a key role in driving Europe's energy independence and industrial autonomy. We have the technology required to manufacture XXL components for higher-capacity turbines exceeding 20 MW, which strengthens our competitive positioning."

The company described Haizea Bilbao as one of the most advanced offshore foundations plants in Europe, with its facilities currently operating at full capacity.

Navigating Sector Volatility and Global Competition

Haizea Wind Group acknowledged the difficult conditions currently facing the wind energy sector, citing ongoing global uncertainty linked to geopolitical factors and what it described as uneven competitive conditions with Asian manufacturers. Despite these pressures, the company said it continues to meet the targets set out in its strategic and business plan and is maintaining a positive growth trajectory.

The company also said its international positioning has been strengthened through its adaptability and operational robustness, which it credits with enabling it to sustain activity levels and safeguard employment. Haizea Wind Group currently employs a workforce of 1,500 professionals across its operations.

The company reported earlier this year that it achieved 371 million euros in sales in 2024, alongside a profit of 18 million euros, figures it cited as evidence of the long-term sustainability of its business model even as the broader European wind manufacturing sector faces headwinds.

Strategic Importance for the European Offshore Wind Supply Chain

The accumulation of three major monopile contracts within a relatively short period following the Bilbao facility's inauguration underscores the growing demand for European-based manufacturing capacity in the offshore wind sector.

European developers and policymakers have increasingly emphasized the importance of building a resilient domestic supply chain as the continent scales up renewable energy deployment to meet climate and energy security targets.

Haizea Wind Group positioned its Bilbao operations as a direct contributor to that goal, framing the Norfolk Vanguard West contract not only as a commercial milestone but as part of a broader industrial and strategic mission to reinforce European energy independence and manufacturing competitiveness in the offshore wind sector.

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