QAZAQ GREEN.  The Sofia offshore wind farm, one of the UK’s largest renewable energy projects, has reached several major construction milestones as it prepares to begin turbine installation in the coming weeks, according to RWE Offshore Wind.

Located on Dogger Bank, 195 km off the UK’s east coast, the 1.4-gigawatt (GW) wind farm is being developed by RWE. Once operational, it will generate enough electricity to power over 1.2 million homes, contributing to the UK’s target of achieving clean power by 2030.

Progress on turbine installation

Recent developments include the arrival of a new turbine installation vessel, Wind Peak, built by Cadeler, which will transport and install the project’s first 14-megawatt (MW) turbine components. Additionally, the first of 150 recyclable wind turbine blades, produced at Siemens Gamesa’s Hull facility, has been completed and is set to be installed on 50 of Sofia’s 100 turbines this spring.

More than half of the offshore turbine foundations are already in place, while the offshore converter station, onshore substation, and export cables—both onshore and offshore—have also been installed. First electricity generation is expected later this year, with full commissioning scheduled for 2026.

Industry and government reactions

RWE CEO Offshore Wind, Sven Utermöhlen, emphasized the project’s role in advancing the UK’s renewable energy goals. “Sofia is RWE’s largest offshore construction project globally and remains on track and on budget. These latest milestones highlight our expertise and strong collaboration with supply chain partners,” he said.

UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks welcomed the progress: “This is a significant step toward achieving our clean power mission. With £6 billion invested in this project, Sofia will power over a million homes, create jobs, and enhance energy security.”

Siemens Gamesa’s Head of Offshore, Marc Becker, highlighted the importance of recyclable turbine blades in improving sustainability. “Sofia will be the first UK wind farm to feature these blades, marking a major innovation in offshore wind technology,” he said.

Advancing offshore wind technology

The introduction of recyclable blades represents a shift toward full lifecycle sustainability in wind energy. The advanced resin system used in these blades allows for efficient material separation and reuse, setting a new industry standard.

Meanwhile, the Wind Peak vessel, one of the largest and most advanced of its kind, is designed to enhance installation efficiency. With the capacity to transport and install up to seven turbine sets per trip, the vessel aims to reduce installation time, costs, and environmental impact.

RWE currently operates 10 offshore wind farms in the UK, with nine more in development. Together, these projects could add nearly 10 GW of installed capacity to the UK’s renewable energy network.