Vattenfall has taken the lead here, by making the final investment decision for Nordlicht 1 & 2 offshore wind farms. This decision is a ground-breaking milestone towards promoting sustainable energy development in Germany. These wind farms, situated 85 kilometers north of Borkum, Germany, will have a total capacity of more than 1.6 gigawatts (GW). Indeed, Nordlicht 1 carries an extraordinary capacity of 980 megawatts (MW). At the same time, Nordlicht 2 contributes an additional 630 MW, together generating nearly 6 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity annually.
Yet the Nordlicht project is unique among these in its thoroughgoing dedication to sustainability. That’s because it uses wind turbine towers produced with low-emission steel. We expect that this decision will help us minimize our overall carbon impacts by at least 16%. The construction phase would start in 2026. We plan to have these developments commissioned by 2028, so they are integral to Vattenfall’s long-term realization of our fossil freedom mission.
"The Nordlicht offshore wind cluster makes a significant milestone in the path to enabling fossil freedom." – Helene Biström
One key part of the investment is a strategic partnership with BASF. As part of this agreement, BASF is buying back shares in the so-called Nordlicht cluster that it first bought into in 2014. The US $60 million agreement ensures BASF’s long-term access to renewable electricity. This access will be key to decarbonizing its chemical production operations across Europe.
"By accelerating Germany’s energy transition and supporting industrial decarbonisation, it will provide clean, reliable energy while driving innovation and sustainability in the sector." – Helene Biström
The Nordlicht cluster serves as a reminder of Vattenfall’s former steadfastness towards promoting and supporting Germany as a world leader in energiewende. Development of these projects will make a significant contribution toward increasing clean energy supplies. Moreover, it will advance a culture of innovation and sustainability within the sector. The joint development with supply chain partners is a further testament to the integrated approach that is often required to make such visionary big projects happen.
"We look forward to realising this important project in close collaboration with our supply chain partners." – Helene Biström
