RWE has completed the installation of all 72 monopile foundations for the 1.1 GW Thor offshore wind farm in the Danish North Sea. Each monopile is about 100 metres long and weighs up to 1,500 tonnes. They were transported from the heavy-lift terminal in Eemshaven in the Netherlands to the site, located 22 kilometres off the west coast of Jutland. Jan De Nul completed the installation using its vessel Les Alizés.
Instead of the conventional monopile and transition piece design, Thor uses extended single monopiles. Secondary steel structures, including boat landings, will be installed offshore later this year. These works are being managed from the Port of Thyborøn, which also hosts the control centre for marine logistics during the construction phase. To protect the foundations until turbine towers are installed next year, reusable hard covers will be fitted.
Turbine installation is scheduled to begin in 2026 from the Port of Esbjerg. Thor will be the first offshore wind farm to use 36 turbine towers produced with reduced carbon emissions, and half of its turbines will feature recyclable rotor blades.
Thor, with a planned capacity of 1,080 MW, is jointly owned by RWE (51%) and Norges Bank Investment Management (49%), with RWE responsible for construction and operations throughout the project’s lifetime.
