Ørsted has completed the installation of the last turbine at the Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm, which is the largest of its kind in Germany, boasting a capacity of 913 megawatts (MW). However, despite reaching this milestone, the company is currently dealing with setbacks in linking the wind farm to Germany’s electricity grid.
Delays in Grid Connection
For the farm to deliver its generated energy, it needs the DolWin5 offshore grid connection, overseen by transmission operator TenneT. Unfortunately, this connection is not anticipated to be operational until December 2025, based on TenneT’s latest updates.
The timeline has been affected by supply chain issues that emerged during the Covid pandemic, particularly disrupting steel and welding activities on the DolWin epsilon offshore platform. As a result, Ørsted now expects that Borkum Riffgrund 3 will start commercial operations in early 2026, receiving compensation from TenneT for the delays incurred.
Commitment to Renewable Energy
Jörg Kubitza, the Managing Director of Ørsted in Germany, stated, “This project is a testament to our commitment to offshore wind energy and decarbonization.” He also emphasized that the delay in connecting to the grid poses challenges in realizing the immediate advantages of this innovative project.
This wind farm operates under a distinctive business model involving long-term corporate power purchase agreements (CPPAs), where 786 MW of its capacity has been secured by major companies including Amazon, BASF, Covestro, and Google. This approach, a first for offshore wind in Germany, guarantees price stability for both Ørsted and its business partners.
Setting a Global Precedent
Borkum Riffgrund 3 is notable for being the first unsubsidized offshore wind project worldwide, made possible through these CPPAs. Once it becomes operational, it is projected to generate enough electricity to power approximately 2.5 million households in Germany.
While waiting for the grid connection, Ørsted is also making advancements on the Gode Wind 3 offshore wind farm, which is close to its commercial launch. Combined, these projects will nearly double Ørsted’s offshore wind capacity in Germany to 2.5 gigawatts (GW). With operations and maintenance managed from East Frisia, Ørsted is dedicated to reinforcing its status as the leading operator of offshore wind energy in Germany, all while addressing the challenges posed by grid infrastructure delays.
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