The £3bn Sofia windfarm by RWE advances as Cadeler has completed installation of SG 14-222 wind turbines. All 100 Siemens Gamesa wind turbines at RWE’s 1.4GW Sofia offshore wind farm in the UK North Sea are up. The SG 14-222 turbine models have a height of 252m, with blades measuring 108m and a rotor diameter of 222m. According to Cadeler, it transported and installed all turbine components across the site.
It also executed the operation from March 2025 after mobilization from the Port of Hull. Wind Peak, the first of Cadeler’s P-class vessels, carried out its inaugural installation campaign on this project. The vessel, delivered in August 2024, was purpose-built for installing new-generation offshore wind turbines.
It is also equipped with a high-capacity crane and an optimized deck for large component transport. Half of all the turbines have been fitted with RecyclableBlades, and related elements were manufactured by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy at the Green Port Hull facility in the UK.
Another major offshore wind project is the Hornsea offshore which was halted earlier in 2025. However, recent updates show that Ørsted has revived the stalled 2.4 GW Hornsea 4 offshore wind project in the North Sea. After pausing the development in 2025 due to supply chain and inflation pressures, the developer secured capital to move the project back into active development
Outlook on the Sofia Windfarm by RWE
The achievement of the Sofia windfarm by Cadeler makes a major step towards ensuring the project is feasible and operational. “The completion of turbine installation at Sofia marks an important achievement for the project and the first offshore wind installation campaign completed by Wind Peak,” Cadeler CEO Mikkel Gleerup noted. “We are proud to have supported RWE and also Siemens Gamesa in delivering a project that will make a meaningful contribution to the UK’s renewable energy supply.”
Testing and commissioning of the high-voltage direct current distribution system is ongoing. Once fully operational, the project is expected to meet the annual electricity needs of nearly 1.2 million U.K homes. Earlier this month, Prysmian Group finished cable installation work for the Sofia offshore wind farm. The company obtained a contract from RWE in 2021 to design, produce and install high-voltage cable systems for the project.
Project Factsheet:
- Project Name: Sofia Offshore Wind Farm
- Location: North Sea, United Kingdom
- Project Value: £3 Billion
- Developer: RWE
- Generation Capacity: 1.4GW
Timeline
- Turbine installation campaign commenced in March 2025
- Installation activities were executed from the Port of Hull
- All 100 wind turbines have also now been successfully installed
- Testing and also commissioning activities are currently ongoing ahead of full operations
Key Project Milestone
- Cadeler has completed the installation of all 100 Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222 wind turbines
- Furthermore, the achievement marks a major construction milestone for the project
- Wind Peak vessel also completed its first-ever offshore wind installation campaign on Sofia
- The project now moves into final testing and also commissioning stages
Technical Specifications
- The project utilizes 100 Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222 offshore wind turbines
- Each turbine stands approximately 252 meters tall
- Turbine blades also measure 108 meters in length
- Rotor diameter reaches 222 meters, supporting high energy generation capacity
Construction & Installation Scope
- Cadeler transported and installed all turbine components across the site
- Operations were carried out using the Wind Peak installation vessel
- Also wind Peak was purpose-built to handle next-generation offshore wind turbines
- The vessel features a high-capacity crane and also optimized deck space for large turbine components
Expected Benefits
- The wind farm will generate up to 1.4GW of renewable electricity
- Once operational, it will supply power to nearly 1.2 million UK homes annually
- The project also strengthens the UK’s offshore wind generation capacity
- It contributes to national energy security and carbon reduction goals
Current Status
- Installation of all wind turbines has been completed successfully
- Also high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system testing and commissioning are underway
- Cable installation works have also already been completed by Prysmian Group
- The project is progressing toward full commercial operations and also renewable energy production
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