Commercial operations passed to Ørsted as MHI Vestas preps for next German wind energy project

MHI Vestas and Ørsted are celebrating the handover of 56 V164-8.3 MW wind turbines, marking the official inauguration of the most powerful wind turbines in the German offshore wind power market.

“Offshore wind energy is a reliable cornerstone for a successful energy transition,” said Volker Malmen, Managing Director for Ørsted in Germany. “With MHI Vestas’ 8.3 MW turbines for Borkum Riffgrund 2, we set a new milestone for offshore wind power in Germany, by pioneering this technology in German waters.”

The installation, which was completed ahead of schedule in 2018, also included the 100th V164 wind turbine to be installed by MHI Vestas worldwide. “The collaboration with Ørsted and other installation partners on Borkum Riffgrund 2 was outstanding,” said Flemming Ougaard, Chief Operations Officer for MHI Vestas. “The project is a noteworthy contribution to the German clean energy transition.”

The 450 MW project, the first German offshore wind farm to feature 8 MW turbines and suction bucket jacket foundations, is located 57 km off the coast of Lower Saxony. After a successful installation during the latter part of 2018, the project is now an important addition to the German renewable energy transition, providing enough clean energy to power more than 460,000 homes.

The project marks the opening of MHI Vestas’ activity in Germany as the company gears up for installation of 33 V164-8.4 MW turbines at Deutsche Bucht. In addition, the offshore wind OEM has been named preferred turbine supplier for up to 52 V174-9.5 MW turbines for Baltic Eagle, scheduled for installation in 2022-2023.
MHI Vestas Offshore Wind is a joint venture between Vestas Wind Systems A/S 50% and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) 50%. The company’s focus is to design, manufacture, install and service wind turbines for the offshore wind industry. The company aims to create sustainable value through offshore wind power by driving capital and operating savings and increasing the power output of wind turbines. An innovative force in offshore wind since its inception in 2014, the company is guided by its founding principles of collaboration, trust, technology and commitment.