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The inaugural wind turbine has been triumphantly erected at the Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm, marking the commencement of the installation process for all fifty turbines. This project, boasting a capacity of 476 MW, is a collaborative effort between Iberdrola, a prominent clean energy company, and Masdar, the UAE’s influential force in clean energy. In collaboration with Vestas, the remaining wind turbines will be transported to the offshore construction site over the upcoming months. Subsequently, they will be installed utilizing the jack-up vessel Blue Tern, owned by Fred. Olsen Windcarrier.
Baltic Eagle is poised to achieve operational status by the conclusion of 2024. At this juncture, it will deliver renewable energy to approximately 475,000 households, playing a pivotal role in Germany’s transition to clean energy.The Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm will produce its eco-friendly electricity through a fleet of 50 Vestas V174-9.5MW wind turbines, boasting an individual output of 9.525 megawatts (MW). These turbines feature a rotor diameter spanning 174 meters and a hub height reaching 107 meters.
The refined rotor blades measure 85 meters in length, meticulously crafted for aerodynamic efficiency and minimal load impact. Once assembled, the turbines stand tall at a total height of 194 meters.
Fred. Olsen Windcarrier’s jack-up vessel Blue Tern is well-suited for the demanding conditions of the Baltic Sea, owing to its extended legs. Equipped with an 800-ton main crane and a flexible deck load capacity of 8,750 tons, it facilitates the transportation of towers, nacelles, and rotor blades to the offshore construction site, where they are installed on transition pieces. Fred. Olsen Windcarrier has already garnered experience in the Baltic Sea during the construction of the Iberdrola offshore wind farm Wikinger.
Set to commence operations by the conclusion of 2024, the 476MW offshore wind farm will provide renewable energy to approximately 475,000 households. This initiative is expected to curtail carbon dioxide emissions by roughly 800,000 tons annually.Baltic Eagle represents the second of three significant ventures in Germany, alongside the operational Wikinger (350 MW) and the Windanker (315 MW) wind farms, which are entering the execution phase. Together, these offshore wind farms constitute Iberdrola’s “Baltic Hub”, expected to achieve a combined capacity exceeding 1.1 GW by 2026. This ambitious initiative is anticipated to stimulate an investment totaling approximately 3.7 billion euros.
“With the installation of its first wind turbine, Baltic Eagle is taking shape off the German Baltic coast. This marks the start of the final phase in the construction of the offshore wind farm, which is expected to become fully operational later this year,” commented Felipe Montero, CEO of Iberdrola Deutschland. “My special thanks go to the Baltic Eagle team for their tireless efforts and outstanding performance. Thanks to the support of Vestas and our partner Masdar, we are confident that we will successfully complete what so far has been an outstanding construction campaign. With the commissioning of Baltic Eagle, the second offshore wind farm in our Baltic Hub, Iberdrola Deutschland continues its growth path, making a significant contribution to Germany’s Energy Transition.”
Husain Al Meer, Director, Global Offshore Wind at Masdar added, “We are delighted that, together with Iberdrola and Vestas, we have taken this significant step toward making the landmark Baltic Eagle wind farm a reality. Masdar has a long-standing commitment to advancing offshore wind projects across the globe. Baltic Eagle will provide clean, renewable power to hundreds of thousands of homes, reducing carbon emissions and supporting Germany with its energy transition. We look forward to seeing the project come to life over the coming months, delivering tangible benefits to the local community and setting a precedent for sustainable energy solutions.”
“It’s a special moment to see the first wind turbine at Baltic Eagle installed, reflecting how everyone involved supports Germany’s clean and secure energy and offshore wind targets in the Baltic Sea,” said Nils de Baar, President of Vestas Northern & Central Europe. “Vestas is proud to be part of this project and our thanks go to our partner Iberdrola for their trust in our technology and the strong and productive collaboration since the beginning of this project.”
