First Power

Sofia Offshore Wind Farm is projected to reach sustained first power around the end of Q2 2026. The trajectory supporting this projection: by mid-April 2026, 80 of the 100 Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222 DD turbines had been installed, with installation continuing at pace using Cadeler's Wind Peak from Hull and IWS Seawalker support; the offshore converter platform was installed on its jacket in August 2024 and is energised; the approximately 360 km of 66 kV inter-array cables were installed, terminated and tested by 8 September 2025; and the HVDC export system to the Lackenby onshore converter station is in place. RWE's 17 March 2025 milestones release and subsequent updates indicated the project is on course to be fully operational in the second half of 2026, with later trade-press coverage referencing a Q3 2026 commercial operations target. A first turbine briefly exported electricity in early April 2026, however Elexon BMU metered output for T_SOFOW-11/12/21/22 showed negative net energy through mid-April and peak metered output of 0.323 MW (under 0.025% of nameplate); this initial energisation is recorded separately as a construction milestone rather than first_power. Sustained, material first export to the GB grid as further turbines are commissioned is expected in late June 2026, with month-end used as the end-of-precision anchor for a month-precision projection. Date will be confirmed and narrowed as RWE issues a first power announcement.