Substation 'vandalised' at major RWE offshore wind project
Incident took place at onshore substation for Denmark’s 'most powerful' offshore wind project, which is mid construction
A Siemens Energy substation built for a major RWE offshore wind project has reportedly been vandalised, with police on the scene investigating the incident.
The onshore substation near the Danish town of Lemvig was designed by Siemens Energy for the 1GW Thor offshore wind farm.
Kristian Høy-Thomsen, project manager at German utility RWE for the Thor project, is quoted as saying they have asked police to investigate the incident.
Police inspector Hans Roost said the investigation is at an initial stage and that specialists are looking into the incident.
The DNA of five employees who have been in contact with the transformer station has been taken to exclude them from any possible findings, he added.
The nature and extent of the vandalism at the substation, which is reportedly designated as critical infrastructure, remains unclear.
"The Danish police have started an investigation," they said, adding that they would not be "speculating" on the matter.
Ground was broken on the substation back in 2023. Siemens Energy is responsible for the engineering and construction work together with local company MT Højgaard Danmark.
This week, RWE announced that half of the 72 monopiles for the Thor project have been installed in the Danish North Sea. Those monopiles will support Siemens Gamesa's flagship SG 14-236 DD turbines.
Sven Utermöhlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind, said that Thor will be Denmark’s largest offshore wind farm to date and it is a “great achievement to have reached the halfway point with the safe installation of the monopiles.”
RWE owns 51% of Thor with Norges Bank Investment Management owning the remainder.