Borkum Riffgrund 3, the offshore wind farm jointly owned by Ørsted and Nuveen Infrastructure, has entered commercial operation in the German North Sea, bringing an installed capacity of 913 MW online and cementing its place as one of the largest offshore wind projects currently operating in Germany.

A Landmark Commissioning for German Offshore Wind

The project, located approximately 72 kilometres off the German coast and covering an area of around 75 square kilometres, comprises 83 wind turbines, each rated at 11 MW.

Its commissioning marks Ørsted's sixth operational offshore wind farm in Germany, following the 253 MW Gode Wind 3 project, which was commissioned in early 2025 and is also jointly owned by Ørsted and Nuveen Infrastructure.

With the addition of Borkum Riffgrund 3, Ørsted's total installed offshore wind capacity in Germany rises to approximately 2.5 GW, enough to supply the equivalent of around 2.5 million households with renewable power. The company now accounts for approximately 25 percent of Germany's installed offshore wind capacity, a position it describes as market-leading.

Patrick Harnett, Chief Construction Officer at Ørsted, said the project demonstrated how offshore wind at scale can bolster energy security across Germany and Europe.

"We remain committed to building out offshore wind in Germany and Europe, our core market. Stable and predictable regulatory frameworks are essential to enabling further offshore wind investments that can strengthen energy resilience and sustain jobs across Europe," he said.

Progress on Ørsted's 8.1 GW Construction Programme

Borkum Riffgrund 3 represents a significant milestone in Ørsted's broader 8.1 GW offshore wind construction programme. Upon completion of that programme, Ørsted says it will reach a total of more than 18 GW of installed offshore wind capacity globally.

Felix Gschnell, Programme Director for Borkum Riffgrund 3 at Ørsted, described the completion as a collective effort involving dedicated suppliers and the internal project team.

"With our sixth wind farm now operational in the German North Sea, we further consolidate our market-leading position, while emphasising the true capabilities that offshore wind energy brings for advancing the German Energiewende," he said.

Josche Muth, Country Manager for Ørsted Germany, framed the project's significance in terms of Germany's broader energy policy direction. "Germany's energy future won't be built on fossil imports.

It will be built on large-scale domestic renewable power. Borkum Riffgrund 3 is a clear example of how offshore wind can deliver secure, affordable, and home-grown electricity," he said.

Long-Term Corporate Power Purchase Agreements Underpin the Project

Borkum Riffgrund 3 is supported by a portfolio of long-term corporate power purchase agreements totalling 786 MW. The agreements have been signed with Amazon for 350 MW, BASF for 186 MW, Covestro for 100 MW, Energie-Handels-Gesellschaft on behalf of REWE Group for 100 MW, and Google for 50 MW. The contracts range from 10 to 25 years in duration.

The offtake structure spans industrial customers in sectors including chemicals and retail, as well as technology companies operating data centres, reflecting what Ørsted describes as substantial demand for renewable energy across both the digital economy and core industries.

Jordi Francesch, Global Head of Asset Management, Clean Energy at Nuveen Infrastructure, said the portfolio of long-dated corporate power purchase agreements supports industrial decarbonisation while providing long-term price visibility for consumers and businesses across Germany.

"This milestone further demonstrates Nuveen Infrastructure's ability to develop and manage large and complex renewable energy projects at scale and underlines our commitment to accelerating the EU energy transition while enhancing energy security for Germany and the wider region," he said.

Nuveen Infrastructure manages more than USD 40 billion in assets under management and describes itself as one of the largest infrastructure investment managers globally.

European Supply Chain and Local Contracting

The construction of Borkum Riffgrund 3 drew on a broad European supply chain. Wind turbines and foundations were sourced from Germany and Denmark, cables came from Germany and France, and installation vessels were provided from the Netherlands and Belgium.

Approximately 100 German companies were contracted for the construction of the wind farm, reflecting a significant degree of local economic participation in the project's delivery.

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