First Foundations Arrive in UK for Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm

Ørsted has taken delivery of the first sets of monopiles for its Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm located 120 km off the coast of Norfolk in the East of the UK. A total of six monopile foundations manufactured by Haizea Wind Group have now reached Teesside in the UK, following a 960-nautical-mile journey from Bilbao completed in two shipments. These monopiles represent the first of 197 units being produced for Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm, which will become the world’s largest single offshore wind project. Each structure measures around 90 metres in length, weighs approximately 1,670 tonnes, and has a diameter of 8 metres at the top, widening to as much as 11 metres at the base. The components were transported aboard BigLift Shipping’s vessel CY Interocean II, with loading operations carried out by Cadeler, working in coordination with teams from Ørsted, Haizea, and logistics personnel at Steel River Quay, Teesworks.

Located about 120 km off the Norfolk coast in the North Sea, the £8.5 billion (US$11.6 billion) project supports UK energy security, economic growth, and the shift to renewables. Offshore construction is ramping up now, with full completion expected by the end of 2027. Onshore works (e.g., cabling and substation in Norfolk) are already progressing.