Mumbai, July 21 -- RWE has reached the midway point in constructing the 1.1 gigawatt (GW) Thor offshore wind project off the west coast of Jutland, with 36 of the planned 72 turbines now in place. The installation moves the project towards becoming Denmark's largest offshore wind farm and the company indicated it remains on course for full commercial operation by spring 2027. Installation logistics are being coordinated from the Port of Esbjerg where turbine staging and vessel operations are under way.
The turbines are supplied by Siemens Gamesa and each has a generation capacity of up to 15 Megawatt (MW); rotor blades measure 115 metres and nacelle heights reach about 148 metres. Installation is being carried out from the Port of Esbjerg using the Fred. Olsen Windcarrier vessel Brave Tern, and the operator expects to complete the remaining 36 turbines by the end of 2026. The project will then proceed to testing and commissioning ahead of the planned commercial start.
Thor incorporates sustainability features including 36 carbon-reduced steel turbine towers and 120 recyclable rotor blades fitted across 40 turbines, which the developer said will reduce lifecycle emissions and improve recyclability. Once operational the offshore wind farm is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to meet the annual demand of more than one million Danish households. The scale of the project is being presented as a step towards larger decarbonisation goals in the North Sea region.
The project is being developed as a joint venture in which RWE holds a 51 per cent stake and Norges Bank Investment Management 49 per cent, with RWE responsible for construction, operation and lifecycle management. The company emphasised the role of supply chain partners and said coordinated logistics and vessel availability have been central to progress. Further milestones will be reported as the installation campaign advances.
RWE's chief technology officer expressed thanks to staff and partners and outlined the remaining focus on safe completion and commissioning in 2027. The developer said lessons from the Thor programme will inform future offshore projects and supply arrangements.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.