Oct 10, 2025
FinalRAVE for Germany's first offshore wind farm as Vattenfall begins preparations for the decommissioning tender.
Vattenfall is preparing to invite tenders for the decommissioning of Alpha Ventus, as indicated by early information from a European tender website. Concurrently, the RAVE (Research at Alpha VEntus) initiative has launched finalRAVE, a sub-project focusing on the final phase and dismantling of the offshore wind farm.
Vattenfall's early notice suggests that decommissioning work is expected to commence in early 2027, though 2028 is also being considered as a start date.
The upcoming contract will encompass all necessary tasks related to dismantling the twelve wind turbines at the Alpha Ventus site, including the removal of rotor-nacelle assemblies and towers, offshore transport, and the provision of all required vessels, equipment, tools, and personnel.
Additionally, the decommissioning contract will include onshore handling, providing the necessary port and support services, as well as processing of wind turbine components and waste management, including temporary storage and transport until final disposal.
For final disposal, the project owners aim to focus on re-use, recycling, and recovering energy from materials. The contractor will also be responsible for marking the foundations that will remain after removing the turbines.
The RAVE initiative, now nearing its completion, was established for research and development on Alpha Ventus, Germany’s first offshore wind farm and test field. It is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), which has contributed over EUR 120 million thus far, and is coordinated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems (IWES).
Since the wind farm's construction in 2008, over 60 partners from academia and industry have worked on more than 35 projects, focusing on environmental aspects, further development of offshore wind farms and foundations, as well as operational optimization.
News regarding the 60 MW Alpha Ventus, operational since 2010, being dismantled surfaced earlier this year when a German media outlet reported that the consortium—including EWE (47.5%), RWE (26.25%), and Vattenfall (26.25%)—was deliberating on the future steps for the wind farm, with decommissioning among the options.
This became newsworthy as the project is 15 years old and beyond its subsidy period. EWE and RWE emphasized that Alpha Ventus serves primarily as a test field for offshore wind, having achieved its intended purpose.
The two project owners also indicated, in a statement to offshoreWIND.biz in March, that decommissioning would contribute to the research objective of the project and to the wider industry, which has not experienced significant decommissioning activities to date.
Alpha Ventus is situated 45 kilometers north of Borkum island in the North Sea and consists of six Adwen AD 5-116 and six Senvion 5M wind turbines.
Vattenfall's early notice suggests that decommissioning work is expected to commence in early 2027, though 2028 is also being considered as a start date.
The upcoming contract will encompass all necessary tasks related to dismantling the twelve wind turbines at the Alpha Ventus site, including the removal of rotor-nacelle assemblies and towers, offshore transport, and the provision of all required vessels, equipment, tools, and personnel.
Additionally, the decommissioning contract will include onshore handling, providing the necessary port and support services, as well as processing of wind turbine components and waste management, including temporary storage and transport until final disposal.
For final disposal, the project owners aim to focus on re-use, recycling, and recovering energy from materials. The contractor will also be responsible for marking the foundations that will remain after removing the turbines.
The RAVE initiative, now nearing its completion, was established for research and development on Alpha Ventus, Germany’s first offshore wind farm and test field. It is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), which has contributed over EUR 120 million thus far, and is coordinated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems (IWES).
Since the wind farm's construction in 2008, over 60 partners from academia and industry have worked on more than 35 projects, focusing on environmental aspects, further development of offshore wind farms and foundations, as well as operational optimization.
News regarding the 60 MW Alpha Ventus, operational since 2010, being dismantled surfaced earlier this year when a German media outlet reported that the consortium—including EWE (47.5%), RWE (26.25%), and Vattenfall (26.25%)—was deliberating on the future steps for the wind farm, with decommissioning among the options.
This became newsworthy as the project is 15 years old and beyond its subsidy period. EWE and RWE emphasized that Alpha Ventus serves primarily as a test field for offshore wind, having achieved its intended purpose.
The two project owners also indicated, in a statement to offshoreWIND.biz in March, that decommissioning would contribute to the research objective of the project and to the wider industry, which has not experienced significant decommissioning activities to date.
Alpha Ventus is situated 45 kilometers north of Borkum island in the North Sea and consists of six Adwen AD 5-116 and six Senvion 5M wind turbines.