RWE takes Financial Investment Decision on 1.4 GW Offshore wind project in UK
RWE, one of the world’s leading players in offshore wind, has taken the Financial Investment Decision on its 1.4 gigawatt (GW) flagship Sofia Offshore Wind Farm project, globally the largest offshore project in its renewables fleet.
The 100% RWE-owned project represents a total investment of approximately GBP3 billion (US$3.7 billion). The company will advance the construction of Sofia, with onshore enabling works due to start this Spring and offshore construction in 2023.
The consented project is located on Dogger Bank, 195 km from the nearest point on the UK’s North East coast. The project will have a single offshore converter platform, with the electricity generated transported via a high voltage direct current export cable to landfall 220 kilometers away in Redcar, Teesside. Sofia will require a new onshore converter station, and already has an agreed grid connection point at the existing National Grid substation in Lackenby, Teesside, seven kilometers inland. RWE is reviewing port options for the project’s long-term operations & maintenance activity.
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy is lined up to supply 100 of its 14 MW offshore wind turbines (SG 14-222 DD), the most advanced offshore wind turbine technology available. A specially formed consortium of GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions and Sembcorp Marine is set to supply a transmission system for Sofia, including two HVDC converter stations. International marine contractor Van Oord is the preferred supplier for monopile foundations as well as array cables and plans to establish a logistics hub in the UK’s North East to deliver the work. Prysmian Group is due to provide a high voltage submarine and land export cable connection, including use of its brand-new cable installation vessel Leonardo da Vinci – one of the most advanced of its kind in the world.
Preferred Supplier Agreements are already in place for all of Sofia’s key suppliers and RWE will now proceed to finalize contracts with them. Final project completion is expected by Q4 2026.
