RWE has completed installation of all 72 monopile foundations at the 1.1 GW Thor offshore wind farm, located 22 km off Jutland’s west coast in the Danish North Sea. Each monopile is approximately 100 metres long and weighs up to 1500 tonnes.
The monopiles, transported from the Netherlands, were installed by Jan De Nul using the vessel ‘Les Alizés.’ Instead of a traditional monopile with a separate transition piece, extended single monopiles have been installed, with secondary steel structures like boat landings to be assembled offshore later this year. These operations are coordinated via a control centre in Thyborøn.
Reusable hard covers have been placed on the monopiles to protect them until turbine towers are mounted next year, supporting RWE’s commitment to sustainable construction and circular economy principles. Turbine installation is planned for 2026 from the Port of Esbjerg.
Thor will be the first offshore wind farm globally to feature turbine towers manufactured with reduced carbon emissions and recyclable rotor blades on half the turbines. Upon completion in 2027, it will generate enough renewable electricity to power more than one million Danish households.
A new service facility is under construction at the Port of Thorsminde, to serve as the operations and maintenance base for the wind farm.
The project is a joint venture between RWE (51%) and Norges Bank Investment Management (49%), with RWE managing construction and long-term operations.
RWE’s offshore wind CTO Tobias Keitel has praised the safe and expert delivery of this key milestone in Denmark’s largest offshore wind farm, underlining the project’s importance for sustainable energy growth in Denmark and Europe.
