4 NOV 2026 ·OFFSHORE ·GERMANY ·FOUNDATIONS FINISHED; TURBINE INSTALLATION AND CABLING NEXT STRONG SIGNAL

Nordlicht I: all 68 foundations installed ahead of schedule in the German North Sea

Analysis by a working wind technician, with the help of AI

// WHAT HAPPENED

Vattenfall has finished installing all 68 foundations at the Nordlicht I offshore wind farm in the German North Sea. The work was done ahead of schedule, according to the report of 4 November 2026.

With 1,020 MW of installed turbine capacity, Nordlicht I is currently planned to become Germany's largest offshore wind farm.

The source is a short news teaser. It does not name the turbine model, the installation vessels, the contractors or the date when turbines will go up. Treat the next steps below as our own estimate.

Another German offshore project is also moving. The Gennaker wind farm in the Baltic Sea (just under 1,000 MW) has installed its two substation platforms, Darß and Zingst. It is due to start operating at the end of 2028. Both projects are in German waters, so their work may overlap in the next two years.

// WHAT IT MEANS FOR JOBS

PHASE NOW

Foundations finished; turbine installation and cabling next

HIRING WINDOW

Estimate: from 2027 for turbine installation and commissioning · service roles after start-up

PLATFORM

Vestas V236-15MW

ROUGH SCALE

Estimate: 80–150 people offshore and in port at peak · about 8–12 months of turbine work

WORKFORCE EFFECT

Mixed: new demand + crews moving across

TIMELINE · WHEN THE WORK HAPPENS

H2 26 ▼ NOW

H1 27

H2 27

H1 28

H2 28

H1 29

H2 29

H1 30

H2 30

Foundation installation completed (68 foundations)

Turbine installation and commissioning (timing not in source)

Operations and maintenance

Solid bar = confirmed · outlined = planned · blue = long-term jobs

ROLES NEEDED

ROLE	WHEN	DEMAND	CERTIFICATES THAT HELP
Offshore turbine installation technician (mechanical)	2027, once turbine installation starts	MEDIUM	GWO BST, BTT, Sea Survival, mechanical bolting experience
Rigger / banksman / slinger signaller	2027 during lifting campaigns	MEDIUM	GWO BST, Slinger Signaller, Advanced Rigging
HV / commissioning technician	Late 2027 – 2028	MEDIUM	HV authorisation, GWO BST, BTT, offshore medical
Service technician (offshore)	From start of operations	STEADY	GWO BST, BTT, Sea Survival, OEM training

// PLAN YOUR MOVE

Experienced technicians

Ask installation contractors about 2027 turbine work and keep your offshore certificates valid. Gennaker's timeline may overlap, so two German projects could compete for the same crews.

New to wind

Get GWO BST and sea survival now. Entry roles in port and pre-assembly usually come before offshore roles.

Looking for stability

Look at service and operations roles at the finished wind farm. They start after commissioning and run for many years.

See matching jobs (26) Read: Wind Turbine Installation: From Ground to Grid Read: GWO Certificates Quick Guide: Course Length, Validity and Refreshers Read: Offshore, HV, SCADA, Rope Access and More Build your CV

Source: Windindustry.com (IWR) · Scale figures are rough estimates from field experience, not official numbers.