Veja Mate

Location and General Information

The Veja Mate Offshore Wind Farm is situated in the German North Sea, approximately 95 km northwest of Borkum island, within the German Exclusive Economic Zone. This area is characterized by strong and steady winds, making it an ideal location for wind energy production.

Capacity and Electricity Production

The wind farm has a total capacity of 402 MW, generated by 67 Siemens Wind Power SWT-6.0-154 turbines, each with a 6 MW capacity. The wind farm is expected to produce over 1.6 TWh of green, renewable electricity annually, which is equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 400,000 to 450,000 German homes.

Turbines and Foundations

Each turbine has a rotor diameter of 154 meters and a hub height of 80 meters above sea level. The turbines are supported by monopile foundations, which were fabricated by EEW at Rostock, Germany. These monopiles are among the largest in the industry, weighing between 1,230-1,302 tonnes and having a diameter of 7.8 meters. The transition pieces were fabricated by Bladt Industries at Aalborg, Denmark.

Construction and Installation

Construction of the wind farm began in February 2016 with seabed preparation work. The installation of the monopile foundations started in April 2016, with Boskalis handling the design, procurement, fabrication, supply, transportation, installation, and testing of the foundations. The installation was carried out using the SeaJacks Scylla and SeaJacks Zaratan vessels. The turbine installation commenced in March 2017 and was completed by the end of May 2017.

Challenges and Innovations

The project faced several challenges, including the handling and installation of the largest monopiles in the industry. To mitigate underwater noise, Boskalis used a hydrosound damper on the gripper frame and a double bubble curtain. The project also required the development of specialized equipment, such as a two-level pile gripper frame to minimize the impact of the piles swinging during lowering.

Grid Connection

The wind farm is connected to the German power grid through the existing BorWin 2 offshore substation, built by Siemens for TenneT. The contractual scope included connecting the turbines to the German high-voltage grid via the BorWin2 converter platform.

Environmental Impact

The Veja Mate Offshore Wind Farm is expected to offset over 18 million tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere over its lifetime, significantly contributing to Germany's and Europe's sustainability targets.

Ownership and Financing

The project is owned by a consortium that includes Commerz Real, INGKA Holding, and KGAL, with ownership stakes of 36%, 33%, and 31%, respectively. The project was financed through a combination of equity and debt, supported by eight international lenders, including Eksport Kredit Fonden and KfW, contributing up to €1.275 billion in debt. KfW contributed €430 million under the Offshore Wind Energy Programme established in 2011.

Contractors and Advisors

Key contractors involved in the project include:

• Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy: Turbine supply and 15-year service and maintenance contract.
• Boskalis: Design, procurement, fabrication, supply, transportation, installation, and testing of the foundations.
• Seajacks UK: Provided the Seajacks Scylla installation vessel.
• Volker Stevin International: Design and engineering services for the permanent works.
• JDR: Hang-offs, connectors, and other cable accessories.
• Smulders: Design, production, transportation, and installation of the topside and jacket.
• EMS Maritime Offshore: Guard vessels for the offshore wind farm.
• SMC: Marine coordination and vessel management.

Technical advisors included K2 Management, financial advisors Green Giraffe, and legal advisors CMS.

Operational Status

The project construction commenced in 2016 and the wind farm entered into commercial operation in May 2017, almost four months ahead of the scheduled timeline. The first turbine started delivering power to the German grid in January 2017, and the last turbine was installed on 25 May 2017, with commissioning activities completed on 31 May 2017.