Ørsted Takes Delivery of First Hornsea 3 Monopiles

Why It Matters

The arrival of the first monopiles signals the transition from manufacturing to construction, accelerating Hornsea 3’s 2026 commissioning and reinforcing the UK’s role in the global clean‑energy transition. It also validates the expanding offshore‑wind infrastructure and job creation in the Tees Valley region.

Key Takeaways

• First six monopiles delivered to Teesside.
• Each monopile weighs 1,670 tonnes, 90 m long.
• Hornsea 3 will be world’s largest offshore wind farm.
• Delivery involved Haizea, Cadeler, and Steel River Quay.
• Three vessels, including Wind Ally, ready for installation.

Pulse Analysis

The Hornsea 3 project, slated to begin power generation in 2026, will add roughly 2.6 GW of capacity and cement its status as the world’s largest offshore wind farm. The recent delivery of six monopile foundations—each 90 metres long, up to 11 metres in diameter and weighing 1,670 tonnes—represents the first physical components to arrive on the UK coast. Transported from Haizea’s Bilbao yard aboard the heavy‑lift vessel CY Interocean II, these steel giants are the building blocks for the turbine arrays that will stretch across the North Sea.

The successful load‑out and load‑in operation showcases a maturing UK offshore‑wind supply chain. Cadeler coordinated the handover with Ørsted, while Steel River Quay’s Teesworks facility proved capable of handling components of unprecedented scale. The collaboration also highlights the strategic role of Spanish manufacturers and the logistics expertise required to move 960 nautical miles of massive structures. As three dedicated installation vessels, including the new A‑class Wind Ally, stand by, the project demonstrates how coordinated partnerships can de‑risk large‑scale renewable deployments.

With monopiles now on site, Hornsea 3 moves into the construction phase, accelerating the timeline for commissioning and reinforcing the United Kingdom’s ambition to reach net‑zero by 2050. The milestone generates hundreds of skilled jobs in the Tees Valley and signals confidence to investors eyeing Europe’s offshore wind pipeline. Moreover, the project’s scale will drive further cost reductions in turbine and foundation manufacturing, setting a benchmark for future megaprojects. As the sector scales, the Hornsea 3 delivery underscores the critical importance of robust infrastructure and cross‑border collaboration.

Ørsted takes delivery of first Hornsea 3 monopiles

Six structures arrive into Teesside from Spain · 11 February 2026

Ørsted has taken delivery of the first six monopiles for the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm into Teesside in the UK from manufacturer Haizea.

The foundations, which are the first of 197 for what Ørsted described as the world’s single largest offshore wind farm, each weigh an average of 1 670 tonnes and measure 90 m in length, the developer said.

Their diameter is 8 m at the top and up to 11 m at the bottom and they travelled 960 nautical miles from Bilbao in Spain on Biglift’s CY Interocean II, according to Ørsted.

The load‑out and load‑in were completed by the Cadeler team working with Ørsted and Haizea in Spain and Ørsted and Steel River Quay, Teesworks in the UK.

“2026 is the year we begin offshore works on Hornsea 3 in earnest and the arrival of these first monopiles marks a key milestone in that process,” said Luke Bridgman, managing director of Hornsea 3.

“Working closely with expert partners is how we’ll make Hornsea 3 a success and we’re confident that we have the best possible team in place to make that happen,” he added.

“Delivering the first monopiles for this project is a milestone for Haizea Bilbao,” said Borja Zarraga, CEO of Haizea Wind Group.

“The expansion of our facilities was born from the trust Ørsted placed in us, and being part of Hornsea 3 allows us to demonstrate our technical capabilities and our commitment as an expert partner in large‑scale offshore projects,” Zarraga stated.

“The delivery of the first set of monopiles for Hornsea 3 marks an important step in Cadeler’s development as a full‑scope offshore wind partner,” said Mikkel Gleerup, CEO of Cadeler.

“This milestone has been enabled by the investments that Cadeler has made in specialised foundation expertise and vessels specifically engineered for extra‑large monopile foundation transportation and installation,” he added.

“With three vessels committed to the Hornsea 3 campaign, including our brand‑new A‑class vessel, Wind Ally, Cadeler is ready to execute this project safely and efficiently,” he said.

“Our collaboration with Ørsted continues a strong partnership built over many years, and we are proud to support the realisation of what will become the world’s largest offshore wind farm,” Gleerup stated.

“Welcoming the first Hornsea 3 monopiles into Teesside is a proud moment for both the project and for Steel River Quay,” said Ally Cameron, managing director at Steel River Quay located at Teesworks.

“Our state‑of‑the‑art facilities have been purpose‑built to handle components of this scale, and it’s fantastic to see the site now playing a central role in delivering what will become the world’s largest offshore wind farm,” Cameron added.

“This arrival underlines the strength of the partnerships forming here on the Tees and highlights how our region is helping drive the UK’s clean energy transition while creating long‑term industrial opportunity and skilled jobs locally,” she stated.