Germany's Largest Wind Project is Moving to Next Step

The permit for the Nordlicht II offshore wind farm, issued by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), has now become irrevocable. With this confirmation, Vattenfall has now taken the full Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Nordlicht offshore wind cluster, comprising Nordlicht I and Nordlicht II. 

Construction of the wind farms is planned to begin in 2026, with Nordlicht I set to become Germany’s largest offshore wind project. Monopile installation for Nordlicht I is scheduled to start in the third quarter of this year, while Nordlicht II will follow approximately one year later. Both wind farms are expected to be operational in 2028, accelerating Germany’s energy transition and supporting industrial decarbonisation with a net capacity of over 1.6 GW.

In March 2025, Vattenfall took a full FID for Nordlicht I and an FID for Nordlicht II on a conditional basis, pending the receipt of the necessary permit for Nordlicht II. Today’s irrevocable permit removes that condition and confirms full FID for the entire cluster. In October 2025, Vattenfall obtained the planning approval for Nordlicht II from the BSH, providing the statutory basis for construction. 

“Securing the irrevocable permit and reaching our full investment decision marks a defining moment for Nordlicht,” says Catrin Jung, Senior Vice President, Head of Business Area Wind. “This project is about more than building offshore wind capacity – it’s about strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. By producing clean electricity locally, we help create a more resilient energy system. Together with our partners, we’re committed to delivering a project that will power homes and industries with fossil-free energy for decades to come.”

As part of Vattenfall’s sustainability efforts, both wind farms will feature turbine towers partially made with low-emission steel, reducing their overall carbon footprint by 16 percent.

Vattenfall is one of Europe’s largest players in offshore wind energy. Last year, Vattenfall, together with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), secured an irrevocable permit for the Zeevonk offshore wind farm in the Netherlands. The project will have an installed capacity of 2 GW and is also designed to produce green hydrogen for Dutch industry, further strengthening Vattenfall’s leading role in advancing renewable energy across Europe.