Thor Offshore Wind Farm Construction Advances as RWE Begins Turbine Installation off Danish Coast

Thor Offshore Wind Farm Construction Advances as RWE Begins Turbine Installation off Danish Coast

(IN BRIEF) RWE has installed the first turbine at the 1.1-gigawatt Thor offshore wind farm off Denmark’s west coast, marking a major milestone in the construction of the country’s largest offshore wind project. The wind farm will include 72 Siemens Gamesa turbines with capacities of up to 15 megawatts each and is expected to be fully installed by the end of 2026. The project features several sustainability innovations, including CO₂-reduced steel turbine towers and recyclable rotor blades, making it one of the first offshore wind farms to incorporate such technologies. Once operational in 2027, Thor will be capable of producing enough renewable electricity to supply the equivalent of more than one million Danish households. The project is being developed by RWE in partnership with Norges Bank Investment Management and forms part of the company’s broader offshore wind expansion across Europe.

(PRESS RELEASE) ESSEN, 4-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — RWE has reached a major construction milestone at the Thor offshore wind farm in Denmark with the successful installation of the project’s first wind turbine off the west coast of Jutland. The development marks the beginning of turbine installation at what will become Denmark’s largest offshore wind facility once it is fully operational.

The Thor project, with a planned capacity of 1.1 gigawatts, is being assembled using components transported from the Port of Esbjerg. Installation operations are being carried out by the Fred.Olsen Windcarrier vessel Brave Tern, which can transport and install three turbine sets during each installation cycle. A total of 72 wind turbines manufactured by Siemens Gamesa will be installed at the site by the end of 2026.

Each turbine will have a capacity of up to 15 megawatts and will rise approximately 148 meters above sea level. The turbines are equipped with rotor blades measuring around 115 meters in length, reflecting the scale and technological sophistication of modern offshore wind infrastructure.

Sven Utermöhlen, Chief Executive Officer of RWE Offshore Wind, described the installation of the first turbine as an important step in the project’s construction timeline. Offshore wind developments require highly coordinated engineering, logistics and safety planning, and the milestone demonstrates the progress being made toward completing Denmark’s largest offshore wind project. Once operational, the facility is expected to play a key role in supporting Denmark’s climate targets while strengthening Europe’s energy independence.

The Thor project also incorporates several sustainability innovations designed to reduce the environmental impact of wind turbine manufacturing and operations. For the first time in an offshore wind project, 36 of the turbine towers will be produced using steel manufactured with a lower carbon footprint. These CO₂-reduced steel towers have been developed by Siemens Gamesa as part of efforts to reduce emissions associated with renewable energy infrastructure.

In addition, some turbines at the site will feature recyclable rotor blades, marking another step toward improving the lifecycle sustainability of wind energy installations. The use of recyclable blade technology aims to address one of the key challenges associated with wind turbine components at the end of their operational life.

Construction of the Thor wind farm has been progressing steadily. In the previous phase of the project, the offshore substation and all turbine foundations were successfully installed. The project has also received a 30-year electricity production licence from the Danish Energy Agency, a key regulatory approval required before the wind farm can begin generating electricity.

When fully commissioned in 2027, the Thor offshore wind farm will have the capacity to generate enough renewable electricity to supply the equivalent of more than one million Danish households. The project is therefore expected to become a major contributor to Denmark’s renewable energy capacity and climate transition strategy.

The operational phase of the wind farm will also bring economic benefits to the region. RWE plans to establish a new service facility at the Port of Thorsminde to support operations and maintenance activities. The facility is expected to create between 50 and 60 local jobs and will officially open in March.

Thor is being developed as a joint venture between RWE, which holds a 51 percent stake, and Norges Bank Investment Management, which owns the remaining 49 percent. RWE will oversee both the construction and long-term operation of the wind farm throughout its lifecycle.

The project is part of RWE’s broader expansion in offshore wind power. The company currently operates 19 offshore wind farms worldwide, including the Rødsand 2 project located south of the Danish island of Lolland.

In addition to Thor, RWE is constructing several other major offshore wind developments across Europe. These include the 1.4-gigawatt Sofia offshore wind farm in the United Kingdom, the Nordseecluster project off the German coast with a total capacity of 1.6 gigawatts, and the 795-megawatt OranjeWind project in the Netherlands.

Together, these developments reflect the company’s strategy to expand renewable energy capacity and strengthen its role as one of the leading global developers of offshore wind power.

RWE
RWE is leading the way to a modern energy world. With its investment and growth strategy, RWE is contributing significantly to the success of the energy transition and the decarbonisation of the energy system. Around 20,000 employees work for the company in almost 30 countries worldwide. RWE is one of the leading companies in the field of renewable energy. RWE is investing billions of euros in expanding its generation portfolio, in particular in offshore and onshore wind, solar energy and batteries. This is perfectly complemented by its global energy trading business. Thanks to its integrated portfolio of renewables, battery storage and flexible generation, as well as its broad project pipeline of possible new builds, RWE is well positioned to address the growing global demand for electricity, particularly driven by further electrification and artificial intelligence. RWE is decarbonising its business in line with the 1.5-degree reduction pathway and will phase out coal by 2030. RWE will be net zero by 2040. Fully in line with the company’s purpose – Our energy for a sustainable life.

Forward-looking statements
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SOURCE: RWE