RWE has received planning approval for the second phase of its Nordseecluster offshore wind project in the German North Sea, marking a key milestone in the expansion of renewable energy capacity in Germany.

According to a company statement released, the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has granted the permit for Nordseecluster B, which comprises the sub-projects NC 3 and NC 4. This approval enables the development of the second phase of the cluster, bringing the total planned capacity to 1.6 gigawatts (GW).

Tobias Keitel, Chief Technology Officer of RWE Offshore Wind, stated that construction activities at sea for Nordseecluster B are expected to begin next year following the approval. He highlighted that the company already operates six offshore wind farms off the German coast and sees the Nordseecluster as a key step in advancing both its portfolio and Germany’s energy transition.

The Nordseecluster is located approximately 46 kilometres north of the island of Borkum and 50 kilometres north of Juist. Its first phase, Nordseecluster A, is already under construction and will have a capacity of 660 megawatts (MW). All foundations for this phase have been installed, and turbine installation—comprising 44 units—is scheduled to start this summer. The project is expected to be fully connected to the grid by early 2027.

The second phase, Nordseecluster B, will add a further 900 MW of capacity. Manufacturing of some components is already underway. Installation of foundations is planned to begin in 2027, followed by the installation of 60 turbines in 2028. Commercial operations are scheduled to commence in early 2029.

Once completed, the entire Nordseecluster is to generate around 6.5 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity annually. The green electricity produced will be used by RWE to support industrial customers in their decarbonisation efforts through tailored energy solutions. Among these customers are technology companies such as Amazon, with which RWE has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for 110 MW from Nordseecluster B.

The Nordseecluster is being developed as a joint venture between RWE, which holds a 51% stake, and Norges Bank Investment Management, which owns the remaining 49%. RWE is responsible for the construction and operation of the project throughout its lifecycle.

RWE is one of the leading global players in offshore wind, with more than 20 years of experience in developing, building and operating offshore wind farms. In addition to the Nordseecluster, the company is currently developing three major offshore projects: Sofia in the United Kingdom (1.4 GW), Thor in Denmark (1.1 GW), and OranjeWind in the Netherlands (795 MW), in partnership with companies including Norges Bank Investment Management and TotalEnergies.