Cadeler Completes Final Turbine Installation at 960 MW He Dreiht Offshore Wind Farm
Cadeler has completed the installation of the final wind turbine at the 960 MW He Dreiht Offshore Wind Farm in the German North Sea, marking a major milestone in one of Germany’s largest offshore wind projects. The final turbines were installed by Cadeler’s Wind Keeper vessel under its long-term agreement with Vestas, bringing the turbine installation campaign to completion.
The project represents an important achievement for the offshore wind industry because He Dreiht is the first commercial-scale project to deploy Vestas’ flagship V236-15.0 MW offshore wind turbine. The successful installation of all 64 turbines demonstrates the growing capabilities of specialized offshore construction vessels and the importance of coordinated execution among turbine manufacturers, developers and installation contractors.
Two-Vessel Installation Campaign
Cadeler carried out its installation responsibilities using two vessels from its offshore wind installation fleet. The campaign began in April 2025 when the company’s Wind Orca vessel commenced installation activities at the project site.
Wind Orca handled the initial phase of the turbine installation campaign before Wind Keeper assumed responsibility for the remaining scope during the first quarter of 2026. Wind Keeper operated under Cadeler’s long-term contract with Vestas, which was announced previously as part of the companies’ broader cooperation in offshore wind construction.
The transition between the two vessels enabled the installation campaign to continue while taking advantage of the capabilities of Cadeler’s expanding fleet. The project also represented a significant milestone for Wind Keeper, as it was the vessel’s first offshore wind installation campaign since joining the Cadeler fleet following its acquisition and comprehensive upgrade.
The vessel is equipped with a 2,200-tonne main crane, providing it with the lifting capacity required for large offshore wind components. Beyond turbine installation, Wind Keeper is designed to support offshore wind operations and maintenance activities through Cadeler’s dedicated service platform, Nexra.
The vessel’s capabilities are increasingly important as offshore wind turbines continue to grow in size and weight. Larger turbines require installation vessels with greater crane capacity, lifting height, deck space and overall operational flexibility. The completion of the He Dreiht campaign highlights the role that upgraded installation vessels can play in supporting the deployment of next-generation offshore wind technology.
First Commercial Deployment of V236-15.0 MW
Developed by German energy company EnBW, the He Dreiht Offshore Wind Farm consists of 64 Vestas V236-15.0 MW turbines. With each turbine offering a rated capacity of 15 MW, the project has a total installed capacity of 960 MW.
The project is particularly significant for Vestas because it represents the first commercial-scale installation campaign for the company’s V236-15.0 MW turbine platform. The turbine was developed to provide high power output while reducing the number of individual turbines required for large offshore wind farms.
Using fewer but more powerful turbines can potentially reduce the number of foundations, array cables and other components required for a project of a given capacity. It can also help developers maximize electricity generation from available offshore areas.
The completion of turbine installation at He Dreiht therefore represents more than the conclusion of a construction phase. It also provides an important real-world milestone for Vestas’ next-generation offshore turbine technology.
Henrik Thun, He Dreiht Project Director at Vestas, said the completion of the turbine installation campaign represents an important milestone for the V236-15.0 MW platform. He also highlighted the collaboration between companies across the offshore wind supply chain and credited Cadeler with supporting the safe and efficient installation of all 64 turbines.
According to Vestas, the project will now move forward toward commissioning and eventual operation.
Major Renewable Energy Capacity for Germany
Once fully operational, He Dreiht is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to supply approximately 1.1 million households. The project will contribute significant new offshore wind generation capacity to Germany’s electricity system and support the country’s broader transition toward renewable energy.
The wind farm is located approximately 90 kilometres northwest of Borkum and about 110 kilometres west of Helgoland in the German North Sea. Its location places it within one of Europe’s most established offshore wind regions, where extensive development has created demand for increasingly capable installation vessels and specialized marine services.
The scale of He Dreiht reflects the increasing importance of offshore wind in Germany’s renewable energy strategy. Large offshore projects can provide substantial volumes of electricity while utilizing the strong and relatively consistent wind resources available in the North Sea.
For offshore construction companies such as Cadeler, projects like He Dreiht also provide an opportunity to demonstrate the ability of their fleets to handle increasingly large turbine platforms.
Cadeler Strengthens Fleet Capabilities
Mikkel Gleerup, CEO of Cadeler, said the company was proud to support Vestas in delivering the first commercial installation campaign for the V236-15.0 MW turbine. He emphasized the importance of safe and predictable execution for projects of this scale.
The completion also marks the successful introduction of Wind Keeper into Cadeler’s offshore wind installation activities following the vessel’s acquisition and upgrade. According to Cadeler, the vessel strengthens the company’s ability to support customers over both construction and operational phases of offshore wind projects.
This broader service capability is becoming increasingly important as the global offshore wind market matures. While installation remains a critical part of project development, operators also require long-term vessel support for inspection, maintenance, component replacement and other offshore activities throughout the operating life of wind farms.
Cadeler’s investment in vessels capable of serving both installation and operations and maintenance markets is therefore designed to provide greater flexibility as the offshore wind sector expands.
Offshore Wind Industry Reaches Another Milestone
The completion of turbine installation at He Dreiht comes at a time when offshore wind developers and equipment manufacturers are increasingly moving toward larger turbine platforms. The ability to install 15 MW-class turbines at commercial scale is an important demonstration of the industry’s evolving technical capabilities.
The successful use of two Cadeler vessels during the He Dreiht campaign also illustrates how specialized installation contractors are adapting their operations to meet the requirements of large-scale projects. Vessel availability, crane capacity and operational efficiency are becoming increasingly important factors as turbine dimensions continue to increase.
With all 64 turbines now installed, attention will shift toward the remaining commissioning and project completion activities ahead of full commercial operation.
For Cadeler, the milestone reinforces its position as a major offshore wind installation contractor and demonstrates the capabilities of its upgraded fleet. For Vestas, it represents a significant step in the commercial deployment of the V236-15.0 MW platform. And for Germany, He Dreiht will add substantial new renewable generation capacity to the North Sea.
The completion of the final turbine installation therefore represents a significant step toward bringing the 960 MW wind farm into operation and expanding Germany’s offshore renewable energy infrastructure.
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