Wikinger offshore wind farm

Wikinger, the offshore wind farm that consolidates Germany as a strategic market

Operating plants Offshore wind Germany

 Wikinger information brochure [PDF] External link, opens in new window.

Wikinger offshore wind farm was inaugurated in October 2018, in an event where the Chairman of the Iberdrola group, Ignacio Galán, celebrated the commissioning of this iconic facility for the company, that has involved an investment over €1.4 billion: "Wikinger represents a new step in our commitment to supplying clean, efficient and reliable electricity. We will continue to champion offshore wind technology since it enables us to drive the energy transition to a sustainable, low carbon economy."

At the end of 2017, Iberdrola successfully connected the offshore wind farm to the national grid and, since then, supplies 350 megawatts (MW) of capacity to the German power grid and provides efficient renewable energy to 350,000 homes — representing some 20% of the energy demand of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern —. This flow of clean energy will have a positive environmental impact since it displaces the emission of nearly 600,000 tons of CO2 per year.

Wikinger marks Iberdrola's entry into the German electricity market, where it has just been awarded the construction of two other offshore wind farms: Baltic Eagle (476 MW) and Wikinger Süd (10 MW). Together with Wikinger, these three wind farms, located off the island of Rügen, will give rise to the largest offshore wind complex in the Baltic Sea, with a total installed capacity of 836 MW and a combined investment of €2.5 billion.

Thus, Germany becomes a key area for Iberdrola group over the coming years, alongside its core markets: United States, United Kingdom, Mexico, Brazil and Spain.

Agreement with Energy Infrastructure Partners (EIP)

In September 2022, Iberdrola signed an agreement with Energy Infrastructure Partners (EIP) for the sale of 49 % of this offshore wind farm for a total of €700 million. This transaction opens the door to a new partner in this renewable facility, in which Iberdrola will continue to hold a majority stake of 51 %.

As a result of this transaction, the valuation of 100 % of Wikinger amounts to approximately €1.425 billion. Iberdrola will continue to control and manage the asset and provide operation and maintenance services.

Our strategic axes 

The Wikinger offshore wind farm External link, opens in new window. is an Iberdrola flagship project. Its development brings together the main themes of Iberdrola's strategy: strong investment in the development of renewable energies, commitment to reducing emissions, technological innovation, international growth, opening of new markets and business lines to its suppliers, and an important boost for the European naval industry.

It is the first offshore wind energy farm to be designed and operated one hundred per cent by a Spanish company. It has consolidated Iberdrola as Europe's leading company in renewable energy, capable of developing projects in markets as competitive as Germany and meeting the demanding planning conditions set by German authorities. In addition, it has served to boost the entire supply chain, benefiting companies across Europe, including Navantia and Windar.

This project has come to fruition thanks to the multidisciplinary and multinational composition of the team set up by Iberdrola and its network of first-rate international suppliers and contractors. Over 2,000 employees from 20 different countries participated in this milestone project. Iberdrola has had to overcome the technological challenges inherent to this type of work and the difficulties arising from the extreme weather conditions in the Baltic Sea.

Phases of construction 

The construction of the Wikinger offshore wind farm, which has been particularly complex, has been developed in different phases:

• 280 piles were driven into the sea bed to hold the foundations. Measuring 40 metres in length by 2.5 metres in diameter, and a unit weight of 150 tonnes, they were all built by Spanish companies Windar and Navantia.
• The offshore substation jacket was installed.
• The Andalucía offshore substation was installed and commissioned, weighing around 8,500 tonnes and built by Spanish company Navantia in Puerto Real in southern Spain.
• The two underwater cables connecting with Lubmin onshore substation were installed and commissioned in coordination with 50Hertz.
• More than 80 kilometres (50 miles) of underwater array cables were run and commissioned between the turbines of the wind farm.
• The 70 jackets or foundations of the turbines were installed and commissioned, each weighing 620 tonnes, manufactured by Bladt Industries in Lindo (Denmark) and Navantia, at its shipyard in Fene (Spain).
• The 70 wind turbines were installed and commissioned. The 5 MW Siemens Gamesa AD 5-135 turbines were manufactured in the company's plants in Bremerhaven and Stade (Germany). These are the wind turbines with the highest power rating and largest dimensions that Iberdrola has installed thus far. With a total height of 165 metres, they are made up of a 75 metre high tower, a 222 tonne nacelle and a 135 metre diameter rotor, with each blade measuring 67 metres long.

Iberdrola has an operations, control, and maintenance centre in the port of Sassnitz.

Other projects under construction 

Iberdrola has other offshore wind projects under construction, including the following:

• The East Anglia Hub Enlace externo, se abre en ventana nueva. macro offshore wind complex, which will be organised into three projects capable of delivering a total installed capacity of 3,100 MW: East Anglia ONE North, East Anglia TWO and East Anglia THREE.
• The Saint-Brieuc (496 MW) offshore wind farm will be located in the waters of Saint Brieuc Bay and, once operational in 2023, will supply energy to 850,000 households.
• Located off the coast of the United States, the Vineyard Wind offshore wind farm will have a capacity of 800 MW and will represent Iberdrola's large-scale entry into this business in the United States. 
• Located next to Rügen island, in the waters of the Baltic Sea, the Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm will have a capacity of 476 MW.

  Dimensions of the Wikinger offshore wind farm ^(*) Nota [PDF] Link externo, abra em uma nova aba.

 Wikinger substation data sheet ^(*) Nota [PDF] Link externo, abra em uma nova aba.

Iberdrola, world leader in renewable energies

At Iberdrola, we decided to commit to renewable energies more than two decades ago as a fundamental pillar on which to build our safe, clean and competitive business model. Thanks to this vision, we are today world leaders in renewable energies, reaching 42,187 MW of renewables in operation by the end of 2023.

This commitment is reflected in our Strategic Plan, in which we will allocate €15.5bn gross to renewables. More than half of this amount is focused on offshore wind in the US, UK, France and Germany; 28% on onshore wind and 18% on solar.