Ecowende has installed the first wind turbine at its offshore wind farm approximately 53 km off the coast of IJmuiden, marking a key construction milestone for the Dutch offshore wind project.
The installation took place on 30 May and was carried out by Van Oord using its offshore installation vessel Boreas. The wind farm will comprise 52 Vestas V236-15.0 MW turbines, each rated at 15 MW. Once fully operational, the project will deliver 760 MW of renewable electricity to the Dutch grid, equivalent to about 3% of current national electricity demand.
Tjalling de Bruin, CEO of Ecowende, said the first turbine installation represents a practical step toward a sustainable energy future for the Netherlands while maintaining a focus on nature. He added that the offshore expertise of Vestas and Van Oord supports confidence in delivering the project safely and on schedule.
One of the project’s key ecological measures is the use of red turbine blades. Under an initiative by Ecowende, Vestas is supplying seven turbines, each fitted with one red-painted blade. The measure is intended to study whether stronger visual contrast during blade rotation can help birds detect turbines more easily and reduce collision risk.
Red was selected ahead of black and fluorescent alternatives because of its performance in heat resistance and blade durability.
Additional mitigation measures include a dedicated bird corridor between the coastline and the Natura 2000 area De Bruine Bank, wider turbine spacing, and elevated nacelles to provide seabirds with greater clearance below the rotor sweep. Adaptive curtailment systems, radar-based monitoring, and AI-assisted species recognition will also be used to reduce collision risks for birds and bats.
Ecowende will assess these measures using bird radars, thermal and daylight cameras, and impact sensors.
Nils de Baar, President of Vestas North & Central Europe, said the project shows that large-scale offshore wind generation and ecological responsibility can be combined. He described the development as an important moment for both the companies involved and the wider offshore wind sector.
Turbine components are manufactured and pre-assembled by Vestas at the port of Eemshaven before being transported offshore by Boreas. At the site, Vestas completes installation and commissioning using the vessel’s main crane and Van Oord’s offshore installation expertise.
Van Oord is also responsible for transporting and installing all 52 monopile foundations, installing inter-array cables, and placing scour protection on the seabed.
Boreas is Van Oord’s flagship offshore installation vessel. Equipped with a 3,310-tonne crane, it was built for the latest generation of ultra-large offshore wind turbines.
Jan Willem Elleswijk, Project Director at Van Oord, said the first turbine installation moves the project into its next phase following the completion of foundation works. He added that Boreas was designed for complete offshore wind projects and can meet Ecowende’s ecological requirements in the North Sea.
