Van Oord has won a contract with the Spanish energy company Iberdrola for the Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm. It includes the transport and installation of the foundations and inter-array cables. Van Oord plans to deploy its 8000-tonne heavy-lift installation vessel Svanen to install the fifty foundations.

So far, the Svanen has installed more than 700 foundations throughout Europe and the vast majority of monopiles in the Baltic Sea, including those for Baltic 2, Arkona and Kriegers Flak. The offshore works for the Baltic Eagle project will commence in 2023.

Van Oord’s cable laying vessel Nexus and trencher Dig-It will be deployed to lay the inter-array cables. The company will customise the Dig-It to ensure that it can handle the challenging soft soil conditions in the Baltic Sea.

Offshore wind in the Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea holds incredible potential for offshore wind in Europe. Germany and several other countries, including Poland, Sweden and Estonia, are exploring new opportunities for offshore wind there. Iberdrola’s Baltic Hub, located in the German Baltic Sea, will deliver 826 MW by late 2024. Iberdrola Renovables Deutschland GmbH is planning to increase their installed capacity in Germany to more than 1.1 GW by the end of 2026.

With a production capacity of 476 MW, the Baltic Eagle wind farm in the German Baltic Sea will deliver renewable energy to 475,000 households while saving nearly one million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. It is scheduled to be fully operational by the end of 2024.

Also read: Van Oord and Boskalis will deepen approach channel to harbour of Harwich