Iberdrola has announced that the first of 50 wind turbines has been successfully installed at the Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm in the German Baltic Sea.
This marks a milestone for the 476MW project, a joint venture between Iberdrola and Masdar.
The installation was carried out in partnership with wind turbine manufacturer Vestas.
The remaining 49 turbines are scheduled for transportation and installation at the offshore site in the second half of 2024.
The operations will utilise the jack-up vessel Blue Tern, owned by Fred Olsen Windcarrier.
The vessel is well-equipped for the Baltic Sea's challenging conditions, with long legs and an 800-tonne main crane.
The Baltic Eagle wind farm will feature Vestas V174-9.5MW turbines, each with 9.5MW of capacity.
Each turbine has a rotor diameter of 174m, a hub height of 107m and a total height of 194m.
The 85m rotor blades are designed for aerodynamic efficiency and load minimisation.
The Baltic Eagle will begin operations by the end of 2024, contributing to Iberdrola's Baltic hub.
Iberdrola Deutschland CEO Felipe Montero stated: “With the installation of its first wind turbine, Baltic Eagle is taking shape off the German Baltic coast. This marks the start of the final phase in the construction of the offshore wind farm, which is expected to become fully operational later this year.
“My special thanks go to the Baltic Eagle team for their tireless efforts and outstanding performance. Thanks to the support of Vestas and our partner Masdar, we are confident that we will successfully complete what so far has been an outstanding construction campaign.
“With the commissioning of Baltic Eagle, the second offshore wind farm in our Baltic hub, Iberdrola Deutschland continues its growth path, making a significant contribution to Germany’s energy transition.”
The wind farm is north-east of Rugen Island offshore Pomerania. Its operations are managed from the port of Mukran in Sassnitz.
Masdar acquired its interest in the project in November 2023 and secured financing for its 49% stake in March 2024 with a €488m ($527m) package supported by several financial institutions.
