European Investment Bank has approved financing of up to EUR 700 million for the Gennaker offshore wind farm in Germany, developed by Skyborn Renewables.
The project is expected to cost around EUR 3.1 billion and will be built in German territorial waters, within the 12-nautical-mile zone off the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula.
Gennaker is the first offshore wind farm to receive grid connection rights under Germany’s territorial waters regulation. The framework allows operators to secure grid connection approval through the Federal Immission Control Act, known as BImSchG.
Skyborn Renewables received its first BImSchG permit in 2019 for a 103-turbine project using Siemens Gamesa 8.4 MW turbines. The company later applied for changes as turbine technology advanced. The project was re-approved in 2024 for 9 MW turbines and is now planned with 63 Siemens Gamesa turbines of up to 15.5 MW each, giving Gennaker a maximum capacity of 976.5 MW.
The state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania granted full approval in December last year. Turbine installation is scheduled to start in late summer 2027.
Earlier this year, Skyborn Renewables and German transmission system operator 50Hertz signed an agreement to enable full project commissioning by mid-2028. 50Hertz is developing the OST-6-1 grid connection.
The two offshore grid connection platforms are being built by HSI Joint Venture, comprising HSM Offshore Energy, Smulders, and Iv. Their fabrication is nearing completion.
Skyborn Renewables signed preferred supplier agreements in September last year for foundations, inter-array cables, and installation work. Suppliers have since started moving these agreements into firm contracts.
EEW Special Pipe Construction was selected for monopiles, Dajin Heavy Industry for transition pieces, Seaway7 for foundation installation, and a TKF and Boskalis consortium for inter-array cable supply and installation.
