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RWE has reached a major construction milestone at its 1.1 gigawatt (GW) Thor offshore wind farm in the Danish North Sea with the successful installation of the first of 72 monopile foundations.
The monopiles—each measuring approximately 100 metres in length and weighing up to 1,500 metric tons, the equivalent of 1,000 small cars—were transported from the heavy-lift terminal in Eemshaven, the Netherlands, to the Thor site, located about 22 kilometres off the west coast of Jutland. Installation is being carried out by the vessel Les Alizés, which can carry up to five monopiles per shipment.
Secondary steel structures for the foundations are being managed from the Port of Thyborøn, which serves as the offshore construction base and home port for service vessels. Thyborøn also hosts the project’s marine logistics and offshore construction control centre.
Sven Utermöhlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind said, “With Thor we are constructing Denmark’s largest offshore wind farm to date. The installation of the first monopile is a highly symbolic moment and a great achievement for the entire RWE team after years of planning and preparation. My thanks go to all colleagues and partners involved for their contribution. Building a project of this size and scale is a great opportunity to demonstrate our expertise in delivering valuable offshore wind farms around the globe.”
Pioneering Sustainable Construction
RWE is integrating multiple sustainability innovations at Thor. Reused hard covers are being installed to protect the monopiles until turbine towers are mounted. In addition, 36 turbines will feature CO₂-reduced steel towers, while 40 turbines will be equipped with recyclable rotor blades—enhancing the project’s environmental credentials.
Project Progress and Community Impact
Turbine installation is scheduled to begin in 2026 from the Port of Esbjerg. Once fully operational in 2027, Thor will generate enough renewable electricity to power more than one million Danish households.
The wind farm will also support local job creation, with 50 to 60 long-term roles planned at a new operations and maintenance facility in the Port of Thorsminde. Construction of the service building is already underway and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
RWE: A Global Leader in Offshore Wind
With over two decades of experience in offshore wind, RWE is a global industry leader. The company currently operates 19 offshore wind farms and is actively building several major projects, including:
- Sofia in the UK (1.4 GW)
- OranjeWind in the Netherlands (795 MW, RWE share: 50%)
- Nordseecluster in Germany (1.6 GW)
- Thor in Denmark (1.1 GW)
In a recent strategic move, RWE announced that Norges Bank Investment Management will acquire a 49% stake in both the Thor and Nordseecluster offshore wind projects.
