Seventeen years from start to operation

Since its launch in 2011, the project has been continuously refined in response to evolving regulatory, technical, and market conditions. This long-standing development effort laid the foundation for advancing one of the most significant offshore wind farm projects in the German Baltic Sea into its next phase.

The first permit was granted in 2019, marking an important milestone in the development. The original concept was based on a larger number of smaller wind turbine generators. In the years that followed, the project was further optimised in line with advances in offshore wind technology, enabling fewer wind turbine generators while reducing its spatial footprint and increasing its planned installed capacity.

A key milestone was the reconfiguration of the project to 63 wind turbine generators of the 15 MW class. This process began in 2023 and was reflected in the updated permit process in 2025, resulting in a planned installed capacity of up to 976.5 MW. Adopting one of the world’s most modern and powerful wind turbine generator types enables more efficient use of the project area, demonstrating how a long-standing development can successfully adapt to state-of-the-art offshore wind technology.

Securing the construction and operating permit in December 2025 represented a central milestone for the project. This regulatory approval confirmed the feasibility of the optimised project concept, providing the foundation for the Final Investment Decision and the subsequent transition into execution.

Development was continuously aligned with key commercial building blocks, including long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), partnering processes, and project financing, which advanced between 2025 and 2026. Together, these elements form the project’s economic base, creating the conditions for long-term sustainable execution and operation.

The manufacturing of key components started on 30 July 2026 with the first steel cutting for transition pieces. In the following months, production of other critical project elements, including monopiles, inner-array grid cables and wind turbine generator components, will commence. Reaching this milestone marks an important sign of progress and supports timely preparation for the offshore installation campaign.

The Final Investment Decision marks an important step for the project, signalling the decisive transition from development to execution and long-term operation. This step secured the economic, contractual, and financial foundation required to deliver the largest offshore wind farm in the German Baltic Sea.

Installation of the offshore substation is planned for 2026.

Offshore installation is planned to begin in June 2027. This milestone will mark the visible start of construction activities at sea and the beginning of the key execution phase for the project. During this period, the project team, contractors and vessel operators will work closely together to ensure that activities are carried out safely and efficiently.

Offshore installation activities are planned to take place from mid-2027 until the end of 2028. During this period, individual components and the required infrastructure will be installed in defined stages, including foundations, inner-array grid cables, wind turbine generators and related systems. Each stage will be carefully coordinated to support safe and timely delivery while maintaining a focus on quality and steady progress towards commissioning.

First power is planned for April 2028. This will mark a major milestone for the project, demonstrating that the initial components and infrastructure have been successfully installed, commissioned and energised. It will also mark the start of the gradual transition from construction to energy generation.

Offshore installation activities are scheduled to be completed in November 2028. At this point, the main construction works will have been finished, allowing the project team to focus on final testing, commissioning activities, documentation, and preparations for hand-over to the operations team.

Hand-over of the completed project to the operations team is planned for 31 December 2028. This milestone will mark the completion of the installation and commissioning phase and the transition of the offshore wind farm into regular operational management. It will also confirm that the relevant systems, documentation, and responsibilities have been transferred to the operations team.