Renewables

World’s largest wind turbines set sail for first subsidy-free offshore wind farm

Published by

The largest wind turbines yet to be installed are bound for the 1.5GW Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm located in the Dutch North Sea, the world’s first subsidy-free offshore wind farm.

The Siemens Gamesa 11MW wind turbines are the biggest in the world to be installed to date, although even larger turbines are being developed by all major wind turbine manufacturers.

These 11MW turbines have a rotor diameter of 200-metres and a total height of 225-metres (from sea level to the top of the blade).

Danish offshore wind installation experts Cadeler will transport all 140 of the 11MW wind turbines to the location of Vattenfall’s 1.5GW Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm, which is expected to be fully operational by 2023.

Its windfarm Installation Vessel (WIV) Wind Osprey set sail from the Port of Rotterdam over the weekend loaded up with the first batch of the 11MW wind turbines.

The 160-metre-long Wind Osprey has a 50-metre-tall crane and an auxiliary 40-metre-tall crane to help install the machinery.

The 1.5GW Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm is the first subsidy-free offshore wind farm to begin construction.

“Winning the bid for Hollandse Kust Zuid is a result of our continuous cost reduction efforts along our entire value chain and the solid track record and portfolio approach of our company,” said Gunnar Groebler, senior vice president business area wind at Vattenfall, in 2018.

 

 

Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.

Joshua S Hill

Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.

Share
Published by

Recent Posts

“Just give us a shot:” Networks say community batteries can right the wrongs of grid gold plating

Should networks be allowed to deliver competitive services like shared storage from community batteries? Rob…

22 April 2026

Solar Insiders Podcast: Community batteries – can networks deliver what it says on the tin?

Rob Amphlett Lewis on Ausgrid's Energy Storage as a Service offer, the falling cost of…

22 April 2026

Wind project to hand over worker village to First Nations community, and create new home for black cockatoos

Plans to build accommodation for 300 wind farm workers get federal environmental pass, with promise…

22 April 2026

First giant turbine parts for the only wind farm under construction in NSW to begin long road journey soon

Updated: First of 700 turbine deliveries for the only wind farm in NSW currently under…

22 April 2026

Hybridisation of wind, solar and battery storage is no longer optional – it’s the new baseline

Hybridisation is rapidly becoming the default model for utility-scale renewables. Not because it is elegant,…

22 April 2026

Video: From $200 bills to $190 credit – 1 month with solar & battery

After installing solar and battery storage in Part 1, this is the first real look…

22 April 2026