Updated: Vattenfall leaves door ajar on Norfolk Boreas with§ 4GW Vestas deals for UK offshore wind projects

The Danish wind manufacturer and Vattenfall signed a preferred supplier deal for the 1380MW Norfolk Vanguard West project, with intention to supply 92 of Vestas’ V236-15MW turbines — the largest model in its fleet. Vattenfall said the agreement takes the form of a capacity reservation agreement for the project. 

Vestas was also named in exclusivity agreements for Vattenfall’s 1.36GW Norfolk Vanguard East project, plus the 1396MW Norfolk Boreas project, which Vattenfall officially suspended earlier this year. 

Vestas said Norfolk Vanguard East and Norfolk Boreas could feature up to 184 V236-15 MW turbines between them. If and when the turbines are installed, the initial agreements could also see the company service the projects under long-term operations and maintenance (O&M) service contracts. 

Siemens Gamesa was previously lined up by Vattenfall as the preferred turbine supplier for the entire Norfolk offshore wind zone, as the projects are collectively known, in 2021. 

The news prompted speculation that Norfolk Boreas could now move forward despite Vattenfall throwing its future into doubt earlier this year when it suspended the project due to unfavourable economic conditions. 

Vattenfall cited soaring costs, inflation and geopolitical instability as reasons why it shelved Norfolk Boreas. Since then, Bloomberg reported in September that the company was in the early stages of talks with potential buyers to sell the project, and Vattenfall confirmed it was assessing its options as to the project’s future. 

Door ajar on Boreas project 

A spokesperson for Vattenfall told Windpower Monthly a decision on the future of Norfolk Boreas had not yet been taken, leaving the door open on the project’s continuation. 

They added that the decision to push forward with supplier deals for the Norfolk offshore wind zone projects was made in the context of the UK government raising its prices for future offshore wind tenders including the upcoming AR6 round — with an exclusive funding pot set aside for that tender — but stopped short of saying this was the reason supplier agreements had been made. 

“The UK government’s announcement on parameters for AR6 sent a very positive signal for the sector, but direct parallels should not be drawn between the government announcement and individual commercial agreements,” the spokesperson said. 

Vestas’ CEO Henrik Andersen pointed directly to the influence of the UK government’s improved offering for upcoming offshore wind tenders as helping facilitate the deals. 

“The agreements are the result of close and positive negotiations between two partners as well as the positive changes the UK government has announced for next year’s auction,” he said.

NB: Vattenfall announced late on 21 December an agreement to sell the entire Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone portfolio to German energy company RWE. Click here for more details.