Cadeler Installs First Complete Monopile Foundation at Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm

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Key Terms

monopile foundation technical

A monopile foundation is a single, large steel cylinder driven into the seabed to anchor and support an offshore structure, most commonly a wind turbine. Think of it like a tree trunk planted deep into the ground to hold a tall pole upright. Investors care because the monopile choice drives construction cost, schedule, supply‑chain needs, maintenance needs and permitting risk, all of which affect a project’s returns and financing.

offshore wind farm technical

A cluster of wind turbines installed in the sea that generates electricity by converting wind into power and feeding it into the grid, similar to a power plant built offshore instead of on land. Investors care because these projects produce long-term revenue streams but require large upfront construction costs, depend on permits, weather and maintenance, and are influenced by government support and power-price contracts.

transportation and installation (T&I) scope technical

The transportation and installation (T&I) scope describes the work, responsibilities and costs covered for moving, delivering and putting equipment or systems into operation at a site. Think of it like a delivery company that not only brings a large appliance to your home but also unpacks, places and hooks it up; for investors, T&I affects project budgets, timing, ongoing liabilities and the true cost to start earning revenue from an asset.

service operation vessel technical

A service operation vessel is a specialized ship used to support offshore installations by transporting technicians, equipment and supplies and often acting as a floating base for maintenance and repairs. For investors, these vessels are like mobile service centers: they generate revenue through contracts and utilization, require large upfront spending, and can materially affect cash flow, project delivery and exposure to weather, safety and regulatory risk.

05/14/2026 - 05:10 AM

COPENHAGEN, Denmark--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cadeler completes installation of the first fully commissioned monopile foundation at Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm in the UK, marking a major milestone in the execution of one of the world’s largest offshore wind developments.

The installation is the first of 197 monopile foundations Cadeler will transport and install as part of the company’s full transportation and installation (T&I) scope for the project.

Once completed, Hornsea 3 will become the single largest offshore wind farm in the world, with a total capacity of 2.9 GW – capable of powering more than 3.3 million UK homes with renewable energy.

The Hornsea 3 project marks the first time Cadeler takes on the complete T&I scope for offshore monopile foundations. The successful installation of the first complete monopile foundation follows years of planning, engineering, and coordination across teams onshore and offshore. It reflects the coordinated execution of multiple specialised offshore scopes across vessels and project partners. The monopile itself was installed by Cadeler’s purpose-built A-class vessel, Wind Ally, while Wind Orca executed the installation of secondary steel. The full commissioning scope was carried out by the service operation vessel ESVAGT FROUDE, operated by the Danish company ESVAGT. Boston Energy has delivered the post-installation commissioning and completion scope for the foundation.

As part of the broader Hornsea 3 installation scope, Cadeler will deploy three of its own specialist offshore wind installation vessels, including its first A-class newbuilding, Wind Ally, purpose-built to support the transportation and installation of XXL monopile foundations.

Bradley Scott, Project Director at Cadeler, comments: “This milestone is not just about the first structure in the ground – it represents an important step as we continue expanding into full-scope foundation transport and installation. Delivering projects at this scale requires close collaboration, detailed planning, and strong execution across every phase of the operation.

"We are proud to support Ørsted on Hornsea 3 and grateful to all teams offshore and onshore whose commitment and collaboration have contributed to reaching this point safely and successfully.”

About Cadeler:

Cadeler A/S (Cadeler) is a pure-play offshore wind installation partner and a global leader in offshore wind turbine transport and installation. The company owns and operates the industry’s largest fleet of jack-up offshore wind installation vessels and is expanding its capabilities into full-scope foundation transport and installation, as well as operations & maintenance. With its modern fleet and depth of expertise across onshore and offshore operations, Cadeler supports the safe, efficient and reliable delivery of offshore wind projects worldwide. Cadeler is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker: CDLR) and the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: CADLR). For more information, please visit www.cadeler.com.