Vattenfall has received irrevocable permit approval for the Nordlicht II offshore wind farm from Germany's Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), enabling the company to take a full Final Investment Decision (FID) for the entire Nordlicht offshore wind cluster. The cluster, comprising Nordlicht I and Nordlicht II, will have a combined net capacity of over 1.6 GW and is expected to become operational in 2028.

Project Timeline and Construction Plans

Construction of the wind farms is planned to begin in 2026, with Nordlicht I set to become Germany's largest offshore wind project. Monopile installation for Nordlicht I is scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2026, while Nordlicht II will follow approximately one year later. Both wind farms are expected to be operational in 2028.

In March 2025, Vattenfall took a full FID for Nordlicht I and a conditional FID for Nordlicht II, pending receipt of the necessary permit for Nordlicht II. The irrevocable permit issued on January 13, 2026, removes that condition and confirms full FID for the entire cluster. In October 2025, Vattenfall had previously obtained planning approval for Nordlicht II from the BSH, providing the statutory basis for construction.

Environmental and Industrial Impact

The project is designed to accelerate Germany's energy transition and support industrial decarbonization. As part of Vattenfall's sustainability efforts, both wind farms will feature turbine towers partially made with low-emission steel, reducing their overall carbon footprint by 16 percent.

Catrin Jung, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Area Wind at Vattenfall, stated that securing the irrevocable permit and reaching full investment decision “marks a defining moment for Nordlicht.” Jung emphasized that the project is “about more than building offshore wind capacity – it's about strengthening Europe's competitiveness and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.”

She added that by producing clean electricity locally, the project helps “create a more resilient energy system” and that Vattenfall is “committed to delivering a project that will power homes and industries with fossil-free energy for decades to come.”

Vattenfall's Broader Offshore Wind Portfolio

Vattenfall is positioned as one of Europe's largest players in offshore wind energy. The company has expanded its renewable energy portfolio beyond Germany, with recent developments in the Netherlands. Last year, Vattenfall, together with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), secured an irrevocable permit for the Zeevonk offshore wind farm in the Netherlands. The Zeevonk project will have an installed capacity of 2 GW and is designed to produce green hydrogen for Dutch industry, further strengthening Vattenfall's role in advancing renewable energy across Europe.

The Nordlicht cluster represents a significant milestone in Vattenfall's offshore wind development strategy, combining substantial generating capacity with environmental sustainability measures by using low-emission steel in turbine tower construction.

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