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RWE and TotalEnergies have chosen the port of Den Helder in North Holland as the operational base for their joint offshore wind project, OranjeWind, in the North Sea. The Blue Port Centre, formerly a fish auction building, will host the wind farm’s onshore operation and maintenance teams, with a lease agreement signed with the building’s owner, the co-operative association Blue Port Centre.
Situated about 80 kilometers off Den Helder, the OranjeWind wind farm will have a capacity of 795 MW, marking RWE and TotalEnergies’ first offshore wind collaboration in the Netherlands. RWE is leading the development, construction, and operation of the project on behalf of the partnership. Beyond OranjeWind, the two companies are jointly developing offshore wind projects off the German coast, while independently advancing multiple wind farms in the British and German North Sea. TotalEnergies brings extensive offshore expertise, drawn from years of managing exploration and production assets, including in the Netherlands. In 2026, the OranjeWind project will begin using the Blue Port Centre to support the construction phase of the wind farm. The centre will provide office spaces, changing rooms, and storage facilities. Operation and maintenance activities will be carried out via a Service Operation Vessel (SOV), which will transport technicians between the port and the wind farm, with the crew remaining at sea for extended periods.
Once fully commissioned in early 2028, OranjeWind’s 53 wind turbines are expected to generate 3 terawatt-hours (TWh) annually, supplying enough renewable electricity to power over one million Dutch households.
Matthias Esken, OranjeWind Project Director said “The multifunctionality of the Blue Port Centre and its quay-side location makes it a perfect fit for our operations and maintenance of our Dutch North Sea wind project. The proximity and accessibility of Den Helder port and airport provide an efficient logistical solution for reaching our wind farm, enhancing our operational flexibility.”
Kees Turnhout, General Director of Port of Den Helder added “Port of Den Helder welcomes the OranjeWind team to our port for the operation and maintenance of the offshore wind project. Our Port is a specialised O&M port for the offshore sector, with a fully equipped supply chain for this purpose. Together with Den Helder Airport, we extend two strong logistical arms over the North Sea, both by water and by air. In the coming years, we are committed to facilitating the maintenance of wind farms and other forms of sustainable energy production. Between now and 2030, we will double the number of berths in our port. The establishment of the OranjeWind O&M base is a significant development in this strategy!”
Pim Visser, Director of the Blue Port Centre noted, “It is fantastic that the OranjeWind team has also chosen our Blue Port Centre. Our former fish auction building, still owned by regional fishermen, will get a new purpose after a significant renovation. The building will be nearly ‘energy neutral’ with super-insulated walls and roofs, solar panels, heating with heat pumps, and top cooling based on the temperature of the groundwater. Located on the deep-water quay, it is perfectly suited as a base for the maintenance of offshore wind farms. With the arrival of OranjeWind, two-thirds of the building is occupied.”
