28.01.2025

The OranjeWind offshore wind project started 2025 not with a proverbial bang but with a stakeholder event to mark the transition into construction phase for the 795MW offshore wind project. Hosted by OranjeWind joint venture partners RWE and TotalEnergies at RWE's Utrecht office, the celebration event was attended by project-related stakeholders, including partners involved in the realisation of the OranjeWind project. 

Among the 100-strong crowd were senior management from suppliers Vestas, Sif, TKF, Jan de Nul, DEME, and TenneT, representatives from Buss Terminal Eemshaven (OranjeWind marshalling port) and Blueport Center Den Helder (the project's operations & maintentance base) as well as representatives from the wider industry. 

Country chair RWE Netherlands Marinus Tabak spoke about the historic relationship of the Netherlands with the sea, RWE's ambitions in offshore wind on the North Sea and how RWE's expertise across the energy value chain is utilized to make OranjeWind a success. RWE Offshore Wind CEO Sven Utermöhlen reiterated the importance of the Netherlands, both as a core market for RWE Offshore Wind as well as its strategic position to the North Sea, supporting offshore wind projects in the wider North Sea, and RWE's 'Growing Green' global decarbonisation strategy. He also highlighted the unique nature of OranjeWind as the only offshore wind project in RWE's global offshore wind portfolio with system integration embedded as part of the bid criteria. 

TotalEnergies' VP Offshore Wind Olivier Terneaud spoke about TotalEnergies' offshore expertise and the company's contribution into the Dutch energy market via OranjeWind. OranjeWind board member Frits Laugeman provided an overview of the progress made so far and looked ahead to the next phases of the project.

Jigsaw puzzle
In closing the celebration event, strategic delivery partners were each handed a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, representing the OranjeWind project and the interdependency of each party. They were asked to hold on to the piece in their office until the OranjeWind project is finished, at which point all parties will be invited back to complete the puzzle at a ceremony.  

About OranjeWind
The OranjeWind offshore wind farm will be located approximately 53 kilometres off the Dutch coast in the North Sea and will have a capacity of 795 megawatts (MW). It is the first offshore wind project being developed by RWE and TotalEnergies in the Netherlands and will be equipped with 53 Vestas V15 turbines.