The He Dreiht offshore wind farm the 960 MW offshore wind farm was inaugurated by EnBW, Allianz Global Investors, AIP Management, and Norges Bank Investment Management in the German North Sea. Located approximately 85 kilometers northwest of Borkum, the complex now ranks first among Germany’s offshore wind farms in terms of installed capacity. Its development required an investment of approximately €2.4 billion and combines high-power wind turbines with long-term power purchase agreements.
The He Dreiht offshore wind farm installs 64 Vestas turbines
Specifically, the facility consists of 64 Vestas wind turbines the V236-15.0 MW turbines, each with a nominal power of 15 MW, are supported by 64 foundations manufactured in Germany. Offshore construction began in May 2024 with the installation of these structures. Later, in April 2025, the first turbine of the project was installed, marking the first offshore deployment of this Vestas model. The wind turbine assembly campaign concluded in August, and since then, the project has progressed with the gradual commissioning of the units, which are already supplying electricity to the German grid.
A €2.4 billion investment in the North Sea
Furthermore, EnBW maintains control of the wind farm with a 50.1 % stake, while the remaining 49.9 % belongs to a consortium comprised of Allianz Global Investors, AIP Management, and Norges Bank Investment Management. The project was awarded to EnBW in 2017 without state funding, a characteristic that distinguishes its economic structure within the offshore wind energy development sector in Germany, the electricity generated is sold through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), and companies linked to these contracts include Evonik, Google, Fraport, Bosch, Salzgitter, SHS Stahl-Holding Saar, Deutsche Bahn, and DHL Group.
The PPAs support the production of He Dreiht
These agreements allow for the direct connection of part of the wind farm’s generation to industrial consumers and large companies seeking to secure long-term electricity supply. With 960 MW of installed capacity, He Dreiht is very close to reaching the one-gigawatt mark. Its commissioning expands the available offshore wind capacity in the European country as it continues to develop new offshore projects in the North Sea, the use of 15 MW turbines also allows this total power to be achieved with only 64 units, concentrating a high generation capacity in a relatively small number of wind turbines.
Germany expands its offshore wind energy capacity
Currently, He Dreiht is the offshore wind farm with the largest installed capacity in the European country; however, that position could change in the coming years with the commissioning of new projects planned in German waters, among them is Northern Lights 1 developed by Vattenfall and also planned for the North Sea, the facility will have a planned capacity of 980 MW and is scheduled to come online in 2028. Meanwhile, the inauguration of He Dreiht adds 960 MW of new offshore wind capacity to the German system through an infrastructure based on high-power turbines, private investment, and long-term PPAs.
Source: Offshore Wind
Photo: Shutterstock
