RWE has begun deploying an offshore wind turbine featuring a reduced-CO₂ steel tower and recyclable rotor blades at its Thor wind farm in the Danish North Sea, marking a key milestone as the project starts supplying electricity to Denmark. The installation is part of the broader 1.1GW development, which has now commenced initial power generation while construction continues on schedule.
The Thor project will ultimately consist of 72 turbines, each with a capacity of up to 15MW, with installation targeted for completion by the end of 2026. Full commercial operations are expected no later than 2027. As part of its sustainability strategy, RWE plans to outfit 36 turbines with Siemens Gamesa’s GreenerTower technology, which uses steel certified to emit no more than 0.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per tonne. Additionally, 120 recyclable blades will be installed across 40 turbines, reinforcing efforts to reduce lifecycle emissions.
Progress on offshore construction remains aligned with timelines, with all foundations and the offshore substation already completed in 2025. Turbine installation is now advancing steadily. To support long-term operations and maintenance, a dedicated service facility has been established at the Port of Thorsminde, with expectations to generate between 50 and 60 local jobs.
The recyclable blades introduced by Siemens Gamesa incorporate a specialised resin that allows composite materials to be separated at the end of their lifecycle, enabling reuse in sectors such as automotive manufacturing and consumer goods. RWE has previously deployed this blade technology at the Kaskasi wind farm in Germany and the Sofia wind farm in the UK, indicating a broader rollout of circular solutions across its offshore portfolio. Commenting on the development, RWE Offshore Wind CEO Sven Utermöhlen said: “Offshore wind already has one of the lowest life cycle carbon footprints of power generation technologies. By using towers produced with greener steel and recyclable rotor blades, we are further reducing the carbon footprint and taking a significant step towards fully circular offshore wind.” The Thor wind farm is located approximately 22km off the west coast of Jutland near Thorsminde, with RWE holding a 51% stake and leading construction and operations, while Norges Bank Investment Management owns the remaining 49%.