Germany's Largest Offshore Wind Farm He Dreiht Inaugurated with 960 MW
Karlsruhe/Hamburg – EnBW and its co-investors have inaugurated the He Dreiht offshore wind farm in the German North Sea, in the presence of Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider. With 64 wind turbines and an installed capacity of 960 MW, He Dreiht is currently Germany's largest offshore wind farm. Construction has been completed, and the wind farm is set to be brought fully into operation in stages over the coming months.
He Dreiht: Just 64 Offshore Turbines, Each Rated at 15 MW
He Dreiht is located around 85 km northwest of Borkum and 110 km west of Helgoland. EnBW was awarded the project back in 2017, in Germany's first offshore wind auction — notably, outside the country's EEG renewable energy support scheme.
Offshore construction began in May 2024. The first of the 64 Vestas turbines was installed in April 2025, and by late November 2025 the first turbine had begun feeding electricity into the grid. Technical and electrical commissioning has proceeded in stages since then, and all 64 turbines, each rated at 15 MW, are now installed. With its total capacity of 960 MW, He Dreiht could theoretically cover the annual electricity needs of around 1.1 million households.
“He Dreiht is the largest single investment made by EnBW in renewables,” said Dr. Georg Stamatelopoulos, CEO of EnBW, at the inauguration ceremony. Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider pointed to the economic potential of offshore wind energy for Germany's coastal regions and for the country as a business location.
EUR 2.4 Billion Investment — Long-Term Power Contracts Instead of EEG Support
Around EUR 2.4 billion has been invested in He Dreiht. EnBW holds a 50.1 percent stake in the project through a project company, while the remaining 49.9 percent is held by a consortium comprising Allianz Global Investors, acting on behalf of Allianz companies, AIP Management, and Norges Bank Investment Management.
The electricity is marketed through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs). Offtake partners include Evonik, Google, Deutsche Telekom subsidiary PASM, Fraport, Bosch, Salzgitter, SHS Stahl-Holding Saar, Deutsche Bahn and DHL Group. According to EnBW, most of the wind farm's future output is already secured through such long-term contracts.
Some of these agreements cover substantial volumes over long terms. Evonik, for example, has secured a total of 150 MW of capacity from He Dreiht. Deutsche Telekom subsidiary PASM will take electricity generated from around 100 MW of wind farm capacity over a 15-year period. DHL Group has agreed to take around 80 GWh annually for ten years.
Outlook: EnBW Plans Dreekant and Morven as Its Next Major Offshore Projects
With He Dreiht, EnBW has significantly expanded its offshore portfolio. According to the company, the installed capacity of its entire renewables portfolio now stands at around 8 GW, more than double the 2018 figure.
The company's next major offshore projects are already in development. In the German North Sea, EnBW is planning the Dreekant wind farm with a capacity of around 1 GW. In addition, the Morven offshore project in Scotland is planned with a capacity of 2.9 GW. By 2030, around 80 percent of EnBW's generation portfolio is expected to come from renewable energy sources.
Source: IWR Online, Sep 09 2026