Manufacturing Update

Siemens Energy has reported a key manufacturing and delivery milestone for the Hornsea 3 offshore wind project with the start of shipments of its SF6‑free 8VM1 Blue GIS switchgear units in January 2025. Produced at the company’s Berlin factory, these units are part of a 197‑switchgear order that will equip turbines at what is described as the world’s largest offshore wind farm, located in the North Sea off the UK’s east coast. The article notes that first deliveries to the project had already begun by January 2025, confirming that factory production and logistics for this critical electrical infrastructure are well underway. Further underlining progress, Siemens Energy highlights that its 2,000th 8VM1 Blue GIS unit overall was delivered to Newcastle in April 2025 as part of the Hornsea 3 order. Each unit requires around ten days to pass through the production line, and the company expects final deliveries to be completed by April 2026. This manufacturing campaign supports a €10 billion project that will comprise up to 231 offshore wind turbines and is scheduled for completion in 2027. The deployment of SF6‑free, clean‑air‑insulated switchgear also aligns with Hornsea 3’s decarbonisation goals by avoiding use of a high‑global‑warming‑potential gas while enabling reliable power transmission to more than three million UK homes once the wind farm is operational.