RWE and TotalEnergies Install First Monopile at 795 MW OranjeWind Offshore Wind Farm

RWE and TotalEnergies Install First Monopile at 795 MW OranjeWind Offshore Wind Farm

(IN BRIEF) RWE and TotalEnergies have installed the first monopile foundation at the 795 MW OranjeWind offshore wind farm in the Dutch North Sea, officially beginning offshore construction of the 53-turbine project. All 53 monopiles, supplied by Sif, are expected to be installed by early 2027, with Jan De Nul’s Les Alizés transporting and installing the approximately 90-metre-long, 8-metre-diameter foundations. The project is using transition piece-less monopiles to reduce steel requirements and a bubble curtain system to limit underwater piling noise and protect marine life. Inter-array cable installation is planned for the end of 2026, turbine installation will take place throughout 2027, and OranjeWind is expected to be fully commissioned in 2028, generating enough renewable electricity to supply the equivalent of around one million Dutch households annually.

(PRESS RELEASE) UTRECHT/ESSEN, 2-Sep-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — RWE and TotalEnergies have successfully installed the first monopile foundation at the OranjeWind offshore wind farm in the Dutch North Sea, marking the start of offshore construction for the 795 MW project.

The first foundation is one of 53 monopiles that will support the wind farm’s turbines. Installation of all foundations is expected to be completed by early 2027.

Once fully operational in early 2028, OranjeWind is expected to generate enough renewable electricity each year to supply the equivalent of around one million Dutch households.

Sven Utermöhlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind, said installation of the first monopile marks the transition from years of planning to physical construction of one of the largest wind farms in the Dutch North Sea.

He credited the project team and supply-chain partners for reaching the milestone and said work is now progressing towards supplying renewable electricity to the Netherlands.

Olivier Jouny, Senior Vice President Renewables at TotalEnergies, said the milestone also supports TotalEnergies’ ambition to develop an integrated power business in Europe.

He said OranjeWind will contribute to renewable electricity supply in the Netherlands while supporting TotalEnergies’ decarbonisation strategy, including the production of green hydrogen for its refineries in Northern Europe.

Transition piece-less foundations reduce steel requirements

The OranjeWind turbines will use transition piece-less monopiles, allowing each turbine to be bolted directly onto the monopile’s top flange without requiring a separate transition piece.

According to the project partners, the design significantly reduces the amount of steel required for the foundations.

Secondary steel components, including the Main Access Platform, Internal Cassette and boat landings, will be attached directly to the monopiles during a separate installation campaign.

Each monopile will measure approximately 90 metres in length and 8 metres in diameter.

The foundations are being supplied by Sif.

Jan De Nul’s Les Alizés handles offshore installation

The first monopile was loaded at Sif’s terminal at Maasvlakte near Rotterdam before being transported to the OranjeWind site, located around 53 kilometres off the coast of IJmuiden.

Transportation and installation are being carried out by Jan De Nul’s Les Alizés, which operates under a long-term charter agreement between Jan De Nul and RWE.

The floating installation vessel uses dynamic positioning to place the monopiles accurately.

Les Alizés is equipped with a 5,000-tonne crane capable of reaching 160 metres at full height. The monopiles are lifted into position and driven into the seabed using a hydraulic impact hammer.

The vessel carries an Ultra-Low Emissions Vessel notation, reflecting emissions performance beyond existing MARPOL requirements.

It is equipped with advanced air-emission control systems designed to significantly reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) and fine-particle emissions.

Bubble curtain used to protect marine life

OranjeWind is also using a bubble curtain during monopile installation to reduce underwater noise generated by piling.

Compressed air is pumped through a hose around the installation site, creating a wall of bubbles that absorbs and reflects sound waves.

Noise measurements will also be conducted outside the bubble curtain to verify that sound levels remain within applicable limits and help protect marine life during construction.

Turbine installation scheduled for 2027

The OranjeWind offshore wind farm is a joint venture between RWE and TotalEnergies and will have a total installed capacity of 795 MW.

Following the start of monopile installation, work on the project will continue with installation of inter-array cables at the end of 2026.

All 53 turbines are scheduled to be installed during 2027, with full commissioning expected in 2028.

Once operational, the wind farm is expected to generate enough electricity annually to meet the equivalent consumption of approximately one million households in the Netherlands.

RWE

RWE is shaping the energy world of tomorrow. To this end, the company is investing billions of euros in offshore and onshore wind, solar energy, battery storage, flexible generation assets and, through its shareholding in Amprion, in the expansion of Germany’s transmission grid. The portfolio is complemented by its global energy trading business. RWE is already one of the leading companies in the field of renewable energy. Around 20,000 employees work for the company worldwide. With its integrated portfolio and broad project pipeline, RWE is ideally positioned to meet the growing global demand for electricity driven by electrification and artificial intelligence. At the same time, the company is making an important contribution to ensuring a secure, affordable and climatefriendly energy supply. RWE is decarbonising its business in line with the 1.5-degree reduction pathway, will phase out coal by 2030 and aims to achieve net zero by 2040 – fully in line with the company’s purpose: Our energy for a sustainable life.

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