Project Overview

Vattenfall is developing the Nordlicht Wind Farm project in the North Sea off the coast of Germany. Developed in two phases (Nordlicht 1 - 980 MW, and Nordlicht 2 - 630 MW), it has a combined capacity of approximately 1.6 GW. The Nordlicht 1 will become the largest offshore wind farm project in Germany. 

Construction is expected to begin in 2026 and be operational by 2028. Combining Nordlicht 1 & 2 is expected to generate 6 Terawatt-Hours (TWh) of electricity annually. The project spotlights wind turbine towers made of low-emission steel, reducing the overall carbon footprint by 16%. 

It is based on the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for steel, which indicates an intensity of 0.9 tonnes of CO2 per ton of steel. Compared with the standard steel used for Vestas’ tower production, the intensity is 2.6 t CO2 per ton of steel. 

Nordlicht Wind Farm Location

The Nordlicht Wind Farm Project is located approximately 85 kilometers north of the island of Borkum in the German North Sea. As the leading logistics and maintenance base, the cluster is located at the Port of Eemshaven in the Netherlands, which eases construction, operations, and grid connection.

The strategic location provides efficient infrastructure support for large-scale installation and operations.

Project Background

The Nordlicht Wind Farm plays a major role in Germany’s offshore wind power generation, demonstrating a strategic relationship between Vattenfall and BASF. 

The project begins with Vattenfall’s vision to boost Germany’s energy transition and make 100% fossil-free power generation. The investment also includes a deal with BASF, which will repurchase shares in the Nordlicht cluster that it acquired in 2024.

BASF entered the project by purchasing a 49% share, securing a direct supply of renewable energy for its chemical production operations in Europe. 

The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) granted planning approval permits, supporting construction timelines of 2026 for Nordlicht 1 and 2027 for Nordlicht 2. 

Nordlicht Wind Farm Project Ownership Details

The Nordlicht Wind Farm project is developed by the joint venture between Vattenfall and BASF, with Vattenfall holding a 51% stake and BASF a 49% stake. Vattenfall is leading project development and construction; BASF will use nearly half of the generated electricity to supply its European chemical facilities, particularly in Ludwigshafen.  

Nordlicht 1 Wind Farm

The Nordlicht 1 Wind Farm is a wind energy project located approximately 85 kilometers north of the island of Borkum. It has a generation capacity of 980 MW, making it the largest offshore wind farm project in Germany upon its completion.

Nordlicht 1 is expected to start construction in 2026. The turbines will be installed by 2027 and will be operational by 2028. It will use 68 Vestas V236-15.0 MW turbines, the most powerful offshore turbines available commercially as of 2025. 

Towers installed will be made of low-emission steel, reducing the carbon footprint by 16%. The low-emission steel is fabricated using 100 percent steel scrap melted in an electric arc furnace powered by 100 percent wind energy, reducing the carbon footprint by 66 percent compared to heavy steel plates made via a conventional steelmaking route.

Nordlicht 2 Wind Farm 

The Nordlicht 2 Wind Farm is part of the larger Nordlicht Cluster and has a capacity of 630 MW. It comprises 44 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 15 MW.

Spanning an area of approximately 44 square kilometers, the construction is expected to start in 2027, and the wind farm will be fully operational by 2028. Vestas will supply V236-15.0 MW units under a contract signed with the developer in April 2025. 

Nordlicht 2 Wind Farm will be connected to the onshore power grid via the NOR-6-3 grid connection system, which consists of the BorWin delta converter platform and the high-voltage direct current transmission line BorWin 4. 

Project Timeline

Nordlicht Wind Farm Project Cost

The total cost for the Nordlicht Wind Farm project is not publicly disclosed. 

Nordlicht Wind Farm Contractors

Benefits

The following are the benefits of the project: 

• Renewable energy generation: The project will produce over 6 terawatt hours (TWh) of clean electricity annually, enough to power approximately 1.6 million households.
  

• Reduce carbon emissions: The wind turbines are made from low-emission steel, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 16% compared to conventional steel production.
  

• Improves grid connection: Integration of the BorWin Delta converter platform with the NOR-6-3 grid system enhances grid connectivity and reliability.
  

• Technological advancements: The deployment of 15 MW-class turbines by Vestas improves wind technology, increasing efficiency and power output per unit compared to older models. 
  

• Grid decarbonization: By supplying enough electricity into Germany’s power grid, Nordlicht 2 helps decarbonize the energy supply and supports national targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Conclusion

The Nordlicht Wind Farm project is a wind energy generation project developed by Vattenfall in Germany. With a total installed capacity of 1.6 GW, the project is developed in 2 phases. Since planning approval was received in 2025, construction is expected to start in 2026 and be fully operational by 2028.

The wind turbines are made from low-emission steel, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 16% compared to conventional steel production. The project is strategically connected to the grid via the BorWin Delta converter platform as part of the NOR-6-3 grid connection system.

It will be a major milestone in Germany’s energy transition, generating over 6 TWh of renewable electricity annually, equivalent to the consumption of approximately 1.6 million households. Its successful completion will enhance Germany's renewable energy landscape, supporting national climate goals and contributing to the global shift toward clean energy.

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