Manufacturing Update

In June 2024, the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm reached a key manufacturing and logistics milestone when its offshore converter platform departed Indonesia bound for the UK. This platform had been under fabrication in Batam, Indonesia, where earlier milestones included the first steel-cutting ceremony in September 2021 and completion of all offshore converter platform decks by January 2023. These steps marked the transition from design and procurement into large-scale fabrication and integration of the HVDC transmission infrastructure that will export power from the Sofia array to shore. The June 2024 sail-away signifies that factory-based construction and integration work on the platform had advanced to the point where it could be transported to the project’s region for final offshore installation. The shipment of such a large, complex asset is a major indicator of schedule progress, reflecting coordination between RWE, GE’s Grid Solutions, and the Indonesian yard. According to the project timeline, the converter platform was then expected to arrive at the Sofia offshore array in August 2024, followed by positioning of the jacket and successful installation at the offshore site. Together, these milestones chart the critical path for energising Sofia’s offshore electrical system and moving the project closer to full commissioning of its 1.4 GW capacity.