The Hornsea 3 project, set to become the world’s largest offshore wind farm, has achieved a critical milestone by connecting its first export cable to the British coast. Developed by Danish energy leader Ørsted, the 2.9-gigawatt facility in the North Sea will provide clean energy to approximately 3.3 million UK homes upon its expected completion in late 2027. This development marks a significant step toward the UK’s goal of reaching 50 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030, while simultaneously bolstering energy independence and creating thousands of local jobs.
The subsea installation process, managed by the Jan De Nul Group, successfully linked the first export cable from the North Sea seabed to the UK mainland on March 26. This connection is essential for integrating the massive offshore array into the national electricity grid. The project utilizes 680 kilometers of export cables manufactured by NKT, with production slated for completion this summer. By the end of the year, the installation team expects to have the majority of the subsea cabling in place.
Located approximately 120 kilometers off the eastern coast of England, Hornsea 3 represents a massive engineering undertaking. The power transmission system consists of two HVDC cables bundled with a fiber optic line for real-time data monitoring. Once the renewable energy reaches the shore, it will be channeled through an additional 50-kilometer underground cable network leading to a specialized converter station in Swardeston, Norfolk.
The infrastructure required to support the project is equally immense. Massive steel jackets, which serve as foundations for offshore converter stations, stand 54 meters tall and weigh approximately 3,500 tons. These structures are specifically designed to withstand the volatile conditions of the North Sea. Ørsted has coordinated a global supply chain to deliver these components, including transporting heavy topside sections over 13,000 nautical miles from manufacturing sites in Thailand to assembly points in Europe.
With a total investment value of approximately £8.5 billion, Hornsea 3 will feature high-capacity 14 MW turbines supplied by Siemens Gamesa. Beyond its contribution to reducing CO2 emission levels, the project is a significant economic engine for the region. It is expected to generate up to 5,000 jobs during the construction phase and provide 1,200 permanent roles once fully operational, with management centered in Grimsby. When combined with the existing Hornsea 1 and Hornsea 2 projects, the entire zone will eventually boast a total capacity of 6 gigawatts.