Ørsted and its investment partner Nuveen have officially inaugurated Borkum Riffgrund 3, a 913-megawatt offshore wind farm in the German North Sea, marking what German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche described as clean energy at "true industrial scale."

The ceremony, held in Hamburg, brought together senior figures from the energy industry, government, and infrastructure finance to mark the opening of one of Germany's largest offshore wind installations.

A Milestone for German Offshore Wind

Borkum Riffgrund 3 is located approximately 72 kilometers off the German North Sea coast and is owned equally by Ørsted and Nuveen Infrastructure on a 50/50 basis.

With an installed capacity of 913 MW, the project is capable of generating enough renewable electricity annually to cover the consumption of close to one million German households.

Reiche, addressing guests at the inauguration, said the project alone adds nearly a tenth to Germany's national offshore wind capacity, which has already surpassed 10 gigawatts this year.

"One wind farm with the output of a conventional power plant," she said. "Clean energy at a true industrial scale." She also described offshore wind as "a serious industrial contributor" and characterized it as clean, resilient energy.

For Ørsted, the inauguration carries particular corporate significance. Chief Executive Rasmus Errboe described the event as a major milestone as the company significantly increases its renewable energy capacity in Germany and takes what he called a large step towards delivering on its global 8.1 GW construction portfolio.

Errboe said the project demonstrates what offshore wind can deliver for Germany, pointing to large-scale, home-grown renewable electricity built through a European supply chain. He called for well-designed and risk-balanced frameworks to unlock further potential in the German North and Baltic seas.

Energy Security and Industrial Demand

Germany currently imports more than 60 percent of its energy, a situation that Ørsted and speakers at the inauguration say has left households and businesses exposed to fossil fuel price shocks on two occasions in less than five years. Borkum Riffgrund 3 is positioned as a direct response to that vulnerability.

As part of its contribution to German energy security, the wind farm will help cover growing demand for renewable electricity from some of the country's largest industrial and digital economy companies. Among the corporate offtakers connected to the project are Amazon, Google, EHA/REWE Group, Covestro, and BASF.

Grant Hendrik Tonne, Lower Saxony Minister of Economic Affairs, Transport and Building, who attended the inauguration, described offshore wind as not merely a pillar of the energy transition but also an economic driver and what he called a strategic locational advantage. He said the project creates orders for industrial companies, supports skilled employment, and strengthens maritime expertise in coastal regions.

Financing and Long-Term Investment

Jordi Francesch, Global Head of Clean Energy at Nuveen Infrastructure, said the inauguration marks a proud moment for Nuveen and reflects the scale of investment and collaboration required to deliver Germany's energy transition.

He pointed to the involvement of industrial offtakers, supply chain partners, and long-term capital as central to the project's realization and said the wind farm will serve German businesses and households for decades to come.

Francesch also called for continued regulatory clarity and stable, indexed frameworks, saying these would be essential to mobilizing the next wave of offshore wind investment. He stated that Nuveen remains committed to supporting Germany's ambitions in the sector.

Policy and Regulatory Framework

The policy environment surrounding offshore wind development in Germany was a prominent theme at the inauguration. Josche Muth, Country Manager of Ørsted Germany, welcomed steps the country is taking to make offshore wind more efficient and affordable, specifically citing the introduction of two-sided contracts for difference, longer operating lives for wind farms, and a stronger focus on cross-border projects.

Muth advocated for a clear, contract for difference only auction model, arguing it would reduce complexity and provide greater certainty, helping to ensure that awarded projects are ultimately built and delivered.

He described this as a key objective shared by both government and industry. On the question of indexation, Muth said it is essential because it mitigates policy-induced, inflation-related, and macroeconomic risks that lie beyond developers' control. He noted that the United Kingdom, Poland, Denmark, and Belgium have already recognised the importance of this approach.

Grid Connection and Technical Innovation

Borkum Riffgrund 3 connects directly to the TenneT Dolwin epsilon converter platform, which Ørsted describes as a first for offshore wind in Germany. Torsten Dietz, Director of Build DC at TenneT Germany, attended the inauguration.

The question of grid build-out was a key topic at the ceremony, with broad agreement among attendees that an accelerated and coordinated approach to grid infrastructure would be central to unlocking Germany's renewable energy potential.

European Supply Chain

The project was constructed using components sourced from across Europe. Wind turbines and foundations came from Germany and Denmark, cables were supplied from Germany and France, and installation vessels were provided by companies from the Netherlands and Belgium, among others.

Approximately 100 German companies were contracted in connection with the development and construction of the wind farm. Operations and maintenance activity further extends the project's engagement with the domestic supply chain.

Tinne Van der Straeten, Chief Executive of WindEurope, and Dr. Nico Nolte, Head of Department at the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany, also attended the inauguration ceremony.

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