RWE, one of the world’s leaders in offshore wind, has awarded two key contracts to Lamprell Energy Limited for the future supply of transition pieces to its two east coast UK offshore wind projects currently under development, Norfolk Vanguard West and Norfolk Vanguard East.
The award underlines RWE’s continued commitment to progressing the development of both projects which, once fully constructed and operational would have a combined total installed capacity of 2.8 gigawatts (GW).
RWE and Lamprell marked the signing of the contracts with a small event at the WindEnergy Hamburg 2024 conference. The scope of work within the contracts requires the manufacture and supply of 2 x 92 transition pieces for both wind farms, and the transportation of the structures to RWE’s official marshalling port, once this has been decided.
Lamprell will fabricate the transition pieces using its state-of-the-art serial production line, commissioned in 2023. The facility successfully completed its first project in 2024, delivering over 60 similar structures for a Scottish wind farm.
Vanguard West and Vanguard East are part of a trio of offshore wind farms along with Norfolk Boreas, making up the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone off the UK east coast. RWE acquired the three projects in March 2024, and has since continued to develop them at pace as part of its commitment to growing green in the UK. Together all three RWE Norfolk projects would be capable of generating enough clean energy to supply the equivalent of around 4 million typical UK homes. The projects are set to play an important part in supporting the UK’s aim to quadruple offshore wind capacity by 2030, deliver a net zero power system, and secure a reliable source of long-term clean, domestic power.
Dr Holger Himmel, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), RWE Offshore Wind: “We are pleased to have secured this key contract for Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone with Lamprell as our preferred supplier for the transition pieces. We are looking forward to a fruitful and productive relationship with Lamprell and we continue to work closely with our delivery partners to progress the development of these important projects towards offshore construction and operation.”
Ian Prescott, CEO of Lamprell: “We are honoured to be partnering with RWE on the Norfolk Vanguard projects. This contract award highlights Lamprell’s commitment to delivering high-quality wind turbine foundation structures that support the global transition towards renewable energy. We are grateful to RWE for their trust and look forward to a long and successful partnership as we work together to contribute to the UK’s renewable energy ambitions.”
Each of RWE’s three Norfolk projects has a planned capacity of 1.4 GW. They would be constructed approximately 47 to 80 kilometres off the coast of Norfolk in East Anglia. The projects already have seabed rights, grid connections, Development Consent Orders and all other key permits. Onshore construction of the substations and undergrounded cable route between Necton and Happisburgh has already begun. As an important next step in the development of the projects, RWE will enter the Norfolk Vanguard projects into a future Contracts for Difference auction.
Once operational, the three Norfolk projects will be capable of generating enough electricity to power the equivalent of more than 4 million typical UK homes – more than all the households in the London region.
RWE is a leading partner in the delivery of the UK’s Net Zero ambitions and energy security. It already operates 10 offshore wind farms across the UK. Including the three Norfolk offshore wind projects, RWE is developing 10 offshore wind projects across the UK and Ireland, representing a combined potential installed capacity of around 10.5 GW, with RWE’s pro rata share amounting to 7.5 GW.
Furthermore, RWE is constructing the 1.4 GW Sofia offshore wind project in the North Sea off the UK’s east coast. RWE’s unparalleled track record of more than 20 years in offshore wind has resulted in 19 offshore wind farms in operation. The company’s goal is to triple its global offshore wind capacity from 3.3 GW today to 10 GW in 2030.
Find out more about RWE’s offshore wind portfolio in the UK by clicking the link here.
Pictures from the signing event (credit: RWE) are available at the RWE Media Centre
