WindNewsToday

Windnewstoday

Renewable Energy Germany

Skyborn Gennaker Offshore Wind Farm Secures Major Deals for Baltic Project

by
Skyborn Gennaker Offshore Wind Farm

Skyborn Gennaker Offshore Wind Farm Secures All Major Contractors

The Skyborn Gennaker Offshore Wind Farm has reached a defining milestone as Skyborn Renewables (Skyborn) confirmed all major contractor agreements for the 976.5 MW Gennaker Offshore Wind Project — set to become Germany’s largest offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea.

The signing of Preferred Supply Agreements (PSAs) during the summer of 2025 marks a turning point for Germany’s renewable industry, bringing momentum back to a sector that had slowed in early 2025.

A Boost for Germany’s Offshore Wind Ambitions

Germany, with more than 9.2 GW of offshore wind capacity, has been a clean energy leader in Europe. However, the first half of 2025 saw no new turbines connected to the grid — raising concerns about national climate goals.

Now, the Skyborn Gennaker Offshore Wind Farm is reviving optimism, ensuring progress toward Germany’s Net Zero 2045 vision.

Capture 1

Skyborn CEO Patrick Lammers said:

“We are extremely proud of the agreements we’ve signed with Gennaker’s suppliers. These experienced contractors will help deliver Gennaker on budget and on schedule, bringing real benefits to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern through jobs, investments, and decarbonization.”

He added his gratitude to the Skyborn team for bringing the Gennaker project one step closer to reality.

Major Contractors Powering the Gennaker Offshore Wind Project

Skyborn has assembled a lineup of world-class engineering and energy partners to deliver this record-setting wind farm efficiently and sustainably.

Monopile Foundations – EEW SPC

The Preferred Supply Agreement for 63 monopile foundations has been awarded to EEW Special Pipe Construction GmbH (EEW SPC).
Each monopile is up to 54.1 meters long, with a 7.5-meter top diameter, and weighs up to 877 tonnes.
The monopiles will be manufactured in Rostock, just 40 kilometers from the project site, strengthening the local Mecklenburg-Vorpommern economy and supporting over 1,000 employees at EEW SPC.

A ceremony at EEW SPC’s facility in Rostock marked the milestone, celebrating Gennaker’s role in securing local employment and supply chain resilience.

Transition Pieces – Dajin Heavy Industry

Dajin Heavy Industry will provide 63 transition pieces, each about 20 meters tall and weighing 400 tonnes.
Production will start in Penglai, China, and final assembly will occur in Odense, Denmark, showcasing the project’s international collaboration.

Foundation Transport & Installation – Seaway7

Seaway7 has been chosen for the transportation and installation of monopiles and transition pieces, ensuring precision and efficiency in the offshore construction phase.

Inter-Array Cables – Boskalis and TKF

A consortium of Boskalis and TKF will handle the supply and installation of 140 kilometers of inter-array cables.
These cables, manufactured in Eemshaven, Netherlands, will connect Gennaker’s turbines to offshore substations, forming the electrical backbone of the project.

These PSAs follow earlier deals for turbine supply and service with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy and turbine transport with Fred. Olsen Windcarrier, completing Skyborn’s full roster of top-tier contractors.

Local Jobs, Global Impact

The Skyborn Gennaker Offshore Wind Farm represents more than clean power — it’s an economic driver for northeast Germany.
By manufacturing major components in Rostock, the project creates hundreds of skilled jobs, boosts the regional supply chain, and injects new life into the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern economy.

Located 15 kilometers north of the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula, the Gennaker site lies in a priority offshore wind zone in the Baltic Sea.
Skyborn secured the building permit in May 2019, maintaining exclusivity for full-scale development.

When completed, Gennaker will supply enough clean electricity to power hundreds of thousands of homes, reinforcing Germany’s leadership in offshore renewable energy.

Skyborn Gennaker Offshore Wind Farm: A Blueprint for Europe’s Green Future

Set for commissioning in 2028, the Skyborn Gennaker Offshore Wind Farm will add 976.5 MW of new capacity to Germany’s renewable energy mix.
At a time when several European wind projects are facing challenges, Gennaker showcases Skyborn Renewables’ resilience and strategic leadership.

CEO Patrick Lammers summed it up:

“This is not just a step forward for Skyborn — it’s a leap forward for Germany’s clean energy transition.”

Conclusion: Skyborn Gennaker Offshore Wind Farm Lights the Path to 2045

The Skyborn Gennaker Offshore Wind Farm stands as a symbol of engineering innovation, economic opportunity, and environmental progress.
By combining global expertise with local manufacturing and employment, Skyborn is redefining how Europe builds sustainable offshore energy projects.

As Gennaker moves toward completion in 2028, it sets a powerful example for future offshore wind energy projects across Europe, driving the continent closer to a carbon-free future.

Offshore Wind Farm No Place for Weapons of War, Expert Says!

by
Offshore Wind Farm No Place for Weapons of War, Expert Says!

Offshore wind executive of Germany has issued a dire warning: Stay away, military types — or risk that renewable energy facilities become targets.

Keep the Military Out From Offshore Wind Farm

The line in the sand was drawn by the head of Germany’s Offshore Wind Federation (BWO) Stefan Thimm while addressing a high-profile conference on offshore wind.

“It is inadmissible to operate military facilities at wind farms,” stated Thimm.

“We are civilian energy suppliers — not battlefields.”

Stefan argued that the offshore wind industry is prepared to protect itself in the digital sphere — where it should fight cyber attacks and report suspect vessel activity — though the infrastructure must be absolutely nonmilitarized.

“We’re utility companies. We were serious about providing an energy supply around here. But we are not combat zones.”

The BWO is a German offshore wind farm operator’s sector platform which is essential for the development of Europe’s renewable energy supply. With geopolitical tensions on the up, and the critical infrastructure increasingly becoming a new battlefield in security debates, Thimm’s statement is a strong one:

Offshore wind should be used to power homes — not to host weapons.

Table of Contents

EU Ambitious 2030 Energy Efficiency Goal – Almost 45% of It Must Be Renewable!

Europe is betting big on clean energy — and that bet is unlikely to be early.

The EU increased its 2020 target in the European Union Energy Directive 2009/28/EC from 20% to 38% on October 2014. The new target for renewables by 2030 of at least 42.5% but with a possibility to be raised to 45% under the revised Renewable Energy Directive EU/2023/2413 that entered into force on 20 November 2023.

This is a huge increase on the 32% level adopted in 2018 and reflects the EU’s enhanced climate ambition under the European Green Deal and in response to global energy crises.

From (20%) in 2020 to (42.5%) in 2030

germans
Aerial drone view of wind turbines German Wind farm, Image: iStock

The 2020 target: 20 percent of the total amount of energy consumed will be from renewables.

2020 final result: 22.1%, which was a surprise according to Eurostat and the EU Commission.

2030’s ultimate binding goal: 42.5 per cent, with a 45 per cent aspiration.

This transition results from a couple of regulatory changes:

2018: Directive 2018/2001/EU establishes a 32% target.

2021: The EU Commission recommends increasing the threshold to 40%.

2022: The REPowerEU plan increases the ambition to 45%, with the goal to reduce reliance on Russian fossil fuels.

2023: The guidance is officially revised and approved.

Getting Clean Energy Deployed at Scale More Quickly

The EU has gone beyond higher targets, and has put in place emergency measures to speed up the issuance of permits for renewables projects and to boost power purchase agreements (PPAs) — in effect speeding up the switch towards solar, wind and other green sources in areas such as the industry, buildings and transport.

What’s Next?

With energy demand growing and the clock ticking, pressure is on EU countries to deploy renewable solutions at a furious pace, if at all possible. The new directive not only raises the bar; it essentially dares the bloc to nearly double its share of renewables in less than a decade.

Conclusion: A green future, not a war zone

On Europe’s ambitious renewable energy targets – and the infrastructure that supports them – must be civil, safe and sustainable. Saturang, experts are wrong

As the EU moves towards its 2030 target of 42.5% renewable energy, it must protect the integrity of its energy resources from both cyber and political threats, as the militarization of offshore wind farms risks turning them from beacons of sustainability into strategic vulnerabilities.

The future of energy is green – not a green light for conflict

Shocking move: Germany Pulls the Plug on Oldest 60 MW Offshore Wind Project

by
Germany closes 60 MW alpha ventus Offshore Wind Project

German has uncommission 60 MW offshore wind farm! In a controversial move that signals the end of an era for renewable energy or the beginning of a new one, Germany’s 15-year-old offshore wind project, Alfa Ventus, is set to close. What led to this bold decision and what does it mean for the future of wind energy in Europe? Let’s explore the facts.

Alpha Ventus Wind Farm Decommissioning Explained

Alpha Ventus, which was inaugurated on 27 April 2010 was one of the pit-stops towards Germany’s pursuit for renewable power. Situated 45 km from the island of Borkum in the German Bight, the farm comprised six Adwen M5000 and six Senvion 5M wind turbines which were installed using two types of foundations, making the site a testing ground for both technology deployed and activity offshore.

The farm wasn’t just a power producer, having been developed by the Alpha Ventus consortium, a joint venture of EWE, RWE and Vattenfall. It served as a platform for research, but also as an innovation in the ways in how the technology of the turbine works (turbine behavior and installation operation) and how the turbine would be integrated in the grid in a harsh marine environment.

This year there was rumour in the press that the consortium was considering its future options for the windfarm, including serious consideration given to decommissioning. The catalyst? The end of the subsidy period for Alpha Ventus, which expired last year. Since the project continues to work, this goal was completed, they wrote their partner.

Repowering (the replacement of ageing turbines with new equipment) was not economically or technically feasible for the small and frail infrastructure of the project. According to Eric Richter, Managing Director of the operating company DOTI:

“Because of the size and weight of today’s turbine models, you have to replace the foundations too, it’s sort of like building a new turbine.”

Offshore Wind Power Project Retirement

Decommissioning On 21 May 2025, the consortium published a statement about the decommissioning of Alpha Ventus. It is closing down Germany’s first offshore wind farm, but it is also making history, as it is the first time an offshore wind farm in German waters has been decommissioned.

The work will be carried out in close cooperation with the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) and other authorities. The focus will be on:

✅ Reducing environmental damage

🔄 Maximise recycling and reusing of elements

📚 Document and learn from that experience.

“We were the first to erect an offshore wind farm in German waters as well as the first to gain experience in decommissioning,” — Richter said.

While the actual removal won’t happen right away — Alpha Ventus still has a little over four years of design life left — planning is already taking place. Vessels, and port facilities require advance booking and/must be booked well in advance, so prior arrangements are crucial.

The project developers are now working on a comprehensive decommissioning concept that favours environmental protection and will provide a blueprint for future wind-downs of offshore windfarms in Germany and elsewhere.

Legacy Of Germany Wind Farm Closure

Though its turbines may soon be quiet, Alpha Ventus is passing on a powerful legacy. It showed offshore wind could work in Germany, sparking an industry that now generates power for millions of homes. And now, by wading into the uncharted waters of offshore wind decommissioning ahead of everyone else, it is leading the way yet again.

Germany’s long view on its own greener future will see Alpha Ventus standing as a monument to innovation, daring experimentation and the cycle of life of renewable infrastructure.