ZITON has extended its strategic partnership with RWE through a new three-year framework agreement, reinforcing a long-standing collaboration focused on maintaining and optimising offshore wind assets across the UK and continental Europe.
The agreement, originally established in 2023, ensures that ZITON will continue to deliver dedicated jack-up vessel capacity from 2027 onwards. The scope includes vessels, lifting operations and auxiliary services for a minimum of 240 days per year, providing RWE with predictable access to critical resources in an increasingly competitive market.
Enabling efficient offshore operations
From ZITON’s perspective, the extension reflects a shared commitment to efficiency, flexibility and high safety standards in offshore wind operations and maintenance (O&M). By securing long-term vessel availability, the partnership supports timely and cost-effective execution of major component replacements, which is an area where planning certainty and rapid response are essential to minimising turbine downtime.
“ZITON welcomes the continuation of the strong partnership with RWE, which serves as a testament to our expertise as a dedicated operations and maintenance service provider. Our flexible fleet of jack up vessels is well suited to support RWE’s diverse offshore assets and we will continue to maintain their portfolio of wind turbines to ensure safe and efficient performance,” says Thorsten Jalk, CEO of ZITON.
“Combining RWE’s in-house capabilities with ZITON’s experience has helped us to develop a standardised and cost-efficient approach to major component exchanges over recent years. By extending our strategic partnership, we will further enhance flexibility and efficiency, reduce response times, and minimise lost revenue across our portfolio – while at the same time reinforcing our strong safety performance,” says Thomas Michel, COO of RWE Offshore Wind.
Standardisation and scalability
Over recent years, the partnership has contributed to the development of a more standardised approach to major component exchanges. Combining dedicated vessel capacity with experienced personnel and integrated service delivery has enabled streamlined operations and reduced complexity for offshore interventions.
RWE continues to expand its offshore wind footprint, with multiple projects under construction across Europe, including developments in the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany. This growth increases the importance of reliable O&M partnerships capable of supporting both existing assets and new capacity coming online.
Experience supporting performance
ZITON’s experience – spanning more than 2,100 successful major component replacements – positions us as a key enabler in this space. By offering integrated solutions covering vessels, manpower, equipment and planning, ZITON supports asset owners in maintaining high turbine availability while managing operational risk.
The extended agreement underlines the role of long-term partnerships in ensuring stability and efficiency in offshore wind O&M, particularly as the sector continues to scale and mature.
