Ørsted has taken delivery of the first giant monopiles for its Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm, a major step forward in the UK’s clean energy expansion. The six steel foundations arrived into Teesside this week after travelling 960 nautical miles from Bilbao, Spain.
Manufactured by Haizea Wind Group, the monopiles are among 197 units being produced for Hornsea 3 – set to become the world’s largest offshore wind farm. Each structure is about 90 metres long, weighs around 1,670 tonnes, with a top and bottom diameter of 8m and 11m, respectively.
The transport was carried out aboard Biglift’s CY Interocean II, with loading and unloading provided by Cadeler in collaboration with Ørsted and teams at Steel River Quay, Teesworks. The arrival marks the start of 2026 field preparations for the project, with offshore construction due to ramp up later this year.
Luke Bridgman, Managing Director of Hornsea 3, described the delivery as “a key milestone” in the project’s progress. Haizea Wind Group’s CEO, Borja Zarraga, noted it also demonstrates the company’s manufacturing capabilities following an expansion of its Bilbao facilities.
Cadeler and Steel River Quay leaders added that the milestone underscores growing UK supply chain involvement and regional job creation in the clean energy sector.
