Vattenfall marked a significant turning point in the development of its Nordlicht offshore wind cluster, installing the first monopile foundation for the Nordlicht I wind farm in the German North Sea. The milestone signals the start of a major offshore construction phase for what the company describes as Germany's largest offshore wind project.

A Cluster of Considerable Scale

The Nordlicht cluster is located approximately 85 kilometres north of the island of Borkum in the German North Sea and is divided into two separate wind farms. Nordlicht I is being developed with a capacity of around 980 megawatts, while Nordlicht II will add a further 630 megawatts.

Together, the cluster is expected to generate around 6 terawatt-hours of electricity per year once fully commissioned. Both wind farms are scheduled to become operational in 2028, with Nordlicht II set to begin its offshore construction phase approximately one year after Nordlicht I.

Engineering at Offshore Proportions

Nordlicht I will comprise 68 monopile and transition piece foundations in total. The monopiles are notable for their size, measuring up to 80.5 metres in length, roughly equivalent to the length of a football pitch, and weighing up to 1,290 tonnes each.

The foundations are being manufactured by EEW Special Pipe Constructions at its facility in Rostock, Germany, while the transition pieces are being produced by CSWind in Aalborg, Denmark.

The transport and installation of the foundations and transition pieces for both Nordlicht I and Nordlicht II are being carried out by DEME, the offshore marine contractor.

Earlier in 2026, Vattenfall conducted land-based testing of key offshore work steps to prepare interfaces, processes and safety procedures before moving construction activities to sea.

Project Director Reflects on the Moment

Cyril Moss, Project Director for Nordlicht at Vattenfall, described the installation of the first monopile as a defining moment for the project and its wider significance.

"With the installation of the first monopile, Nordlicht is visibly taking shape in the waters of the North Sea. It's an important step forward for Vattenfall and at the same time a meaningful contribution to the energy transition, strengthening energy security and competitiveness in Europe," Moss said.

He added that projects of this scale demand precise planning, strong supply chain partnerships and a clear focus on safety and execution, calling it a proud moment for the entire project team.

Low-Emission Steel to Reduce Carbon Footprint

As part of Vattenfall's sustainability commitments, the turbine towers for both wind farms will be partially constructed using low-emission steel. The company says this material choice is expected to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the wind farms by around 16 percent compared to conventional approaches.

Supporting Europe's Energy Transition

Vattenfall has framed the Nordlicht project as a contribution to addressing the growing demand for reliable, fossil-free and locally produced electricity across Europe.

The project is described as strengthening both the company's offshore portfolio and the broader expansion of renewable energy on the continent. The cluster represents a major addition to offshore wind capacity in Germany, where the energy transition has placed increasing emphasis on scaling up renewable generation in the North Sea.

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