Vattenfall Celebrates Milestone as Final Turbine Installed at Hollandse Kust Zuid Offshore Wind Farm

The last blade being fitted. Photo: Matthias Ibeler

(IN BRIEF) Vattenfall proudly announces the completion of turbine installation at the Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm. After nearly two years of construction, the final turbine has been installed, bringing the total count to 139 out of the originally planned 140 turbines. The project encountered a setback when one foundation was damaged due to a collision with a cargo ship during a storm, leading to its removal in 2024. Vattenfall remains committed to sustainable energy generation and will now focus on completing the interior works and testing the turbines. The Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm is expected to become officially operational later this year, contributing to Vattenfall’s mission of transitioning to a fossil-free and sustainable energy future.

(PRESS RELEASE) STOCKHOLM, 20-Jun-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Vattenfall, a Swedish government-owned multinational power company, is delighted to announce the successful installation of the last turbine at the Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm, marking a significant milestone in the project’s development. With construction commencing almost two years ago, the completion of the turbine installation signifies a major step forward in Vattenfall’s commitment to sustainable energy generation.

Project director Ian Bremner: “We are immensely proud of reaching this milestone. The installation of the last turbine is a key moment for the project. Not only for us, but also for our partners and all the suppliers and contractors who helped us get here. Hollandse Kust Zuid is the world’s first subsidy-free offshore wind farm and we look forward to delivering this project.”

“Today we are celebrating the final installation of our biggest ever offshore project. The nacelles were manufactured at our factory in Cuxhaven in Germany and the blades came from Aalborg, Denmark. This project once again underlines how the wind industry can offer Europe energy security through its own, clean and competitive sources,” said David Molenaar, Siemens Gamesa’s Managing Director in the Netherlands. 

Supported by Cadeler’s wind installation vessel Wind Osprey, Siemens Gamesa played a crucial role in transporting and installing all 139 offshore wind turbines. The collaboration between Vattenfall, Siemens Gamesa, and Cadeler exemplified the highest level of professionalism, ensuring the smooth execution of the project.

Kevin Metcalfe, package manager at Vattenfall and responsible for installing the turbines: “The completion of the turbine installation is an important milestone for Hollandse Kust Zuid. During the 12 months of continuous installation, all teams involved worked closely together and maintained focus to achieve this milestone in a safe and efficient manner. Now that the installation is complete, the teams can start focusing on final commissioning and the operation of the wind farm.”

While the originally planned total of 140 turbines was not achieved, with 139 turbines installed, the project remains robust and capable of delivering substantial renewable energy output. The reduction in turbine count resulted from an incident last year, where one of the foundations suffered significant damage due to a collision with the cargo ship Julietta D during a storm. As a responsible energy provider, Vattenfall, in consultation with partners, contractors, and authorities, decided not to install a turbine on the compromised foundation. Instead, the damaged foundation will be removed in 2024. The future utilization of the vacant space is currently under consideration.

In the coming months, Vattenfall will focus on completing the interior works and conducting rigorous testing on the turbines. Hollandse Kust Zuid is poised to become officially operational later this year, contributing significantly to Vattenfall’s efforts in sustainable energy transition and supporting the green future of the Netherlands.

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SOURCE: Vattenfall AB