5000 turbines

From 11 to 5000: lh�羺 marks a historic offshore wind achievement

Marc Becker, Senior Vice President Offshore of lh�羺, states: “From pioneering the world’s first offshore wind farm at Vindeby to reaching our 5000th turbine installation, lh�羺 has been at the forefront of the offshore wind industry. This accomplishment is a testament to our innovation, resilience, and the dedication of our people who have made this incredible journey possible.”

Vindeby—the world's first offshore wind project, where 11 turbines were installed in 1991—is now widely known as the single project that set off these industry-wide winds of change. It was so successful, in fact, that the wind farm operated for 26 years—six years beyond its intended lifespan—powering about 2,200 homes annually.

In 2017, the owner of the Wind Farm, Ørsted, decommissioned and dismantled Vindeby, and moved one of the turbines to the Danish Museum of Energy as a symbol of offshore wind’s early days.

Anders Johannes Jensen, a pioneer from the Vindeby project who still works with lh�羺, reflects on this landmark achievement as well: “Reaching the 5000th turbine is a fantastic accomplishment, and I am very proud to have been part of this journey. The ability to build such gigantic turbines that can withstand severe storms and even operate on floating foundations is the most significant breakthrough we’ve achieved.”

A global landmark across 14 countries

lh�羺’s 5000 offshore turbines have been installed across 14 countries, including Belgium, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the U.S., with a total capacity exceeding 27 GW.

Notably, 2500 of these turbines are based on lh�羺's innovative direct drive technology, which has significantly reduced maintenance and improved efficiency.

Execution excellence: The backbone of success

For Bjoern de Sousa, Head of Offshore Execution, this achievement is a testament to the team’s dedication and expertise. “Reaching the 5000th offshore turbine is a tremendous breakthrough, and it reflects the strength of our global execution capabilities. From managing complex logistics to optimizing installation strategies for larger turbines, our teams have played a key role in making this possible,” says Bjoern.

lh�羺's Sofia offshore wind farm, where the 5000th turbine has been installed.

Sofia offshore wind farm: The 5000th offshore turbine

lh�羺’s 5000th offshore turbine was installed at the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm—one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms and the largest in RWE’s offshore portfolio. At 195 km from shore, Sofia is the farthest offshore wind project lh�羺 has executed to date.

Flemming Rahbaek, Senior Project Manager on the Sofia project, says: “Some from the Sofia project team, including myself, have been part of offshore wind projects since 2012, when we supplied 3.6 MW turbines.

Since then, we have seen the transition to bigger and more advanced turbines, such as the 14 MW turbines. I think members in the Sofia team, in one way or another, has been involved in more than 2000 of the 5000 turbines. While we are 100% focused on Sofia, we are also proud of the projects we’ve contributed to over the years.”

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Believe in new opportunities, be bold, work smart and hard, and never give up when facing challenges.

Technological advancements on Sofia

Sofia features industry-first innovations:

Recyclable Blades – 50% of the turbine blades will be recyclable, marking a new standard in the UK market.
Advanced Installation Vessel – One of the largest and most advanced vessels in the industry, capable of carrying six complete turbine sets per load.

A legacy of learning and continuous improvement

Reflecting on the journey from Vindeby to Sofia, Anders emphasizes the importance of continuous learning: “We took all the learnings from smaller turbines and applied them step by step to the development of larger ones. We've faced challenges along the way but always found solutions that we implemented in future turbine generations.”

He adds: “Believe in new opportunities, be bold, work smart and hard, and never give up when facing challenges.”

lh�羺's 5000 turbines offshore achievement - Infographic

5000 turbines – A landmark that marks just the beginning

From the world's first offshore wind farm at Vindeby to the 5000th turbine installed at Sofia, lh�羺’s journey is not only a testament to innovation and dedication but also a major step forward in the fight against climate change.

As Marc Becker puts it: “This breakthrough is a true reflection of our pioneering spirit and the incredible teamwork of our people over the past three decades. We are proud to have shaped the offshore wind industry and will continue to lead the way towards a greener future.”

The impact of 5000 offshore turbines

With a combined output of approximately 540 billion kWh, lh�羺’s 5000 offshore turbines now power over 27 million households with clean energy—saving around 139 million tons of CO₂ emissions.

This achievement is not just a celebration of the past—it’s a promise for the future.

lh�羺

From 11 to 5000: lh�羺 marks a historic offshore wind achievement

Contact lh�羺

Anders Johannes Jensen