East Anglia ONE offshore windfarm, a joint venture between ScottishPower Renewables and Green Investment Group, has successfully generated its first power as the project takes another significant step towards completion.
As of Thursday 12th September, clean, green power from one turbine is now flowing to the onshore substation at Burstall, near Bramford in Suffolk. The first of the 102 turbines to begin generating power is known as WTG E19, and is located over 43km from the coast of Lowestoft.
Engineers have already started commissioning further turbines and more power will come online at regular intervals. So far 25 turbines have been fully constructed. Once complete, East Anglia ONE will produce 714 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable energy for the UK, enough to power over 630,000 homes*.
The largest offshore windfarm built off the coast of East Anglia, each of East Anglia ONE’s turbines are being pre-assembled and loaded out from Peel Ports Great Yarmouth to the windfarm site 43km from the coast. The power generated from the turbines is then transferred via underground cables from the windfarm to the onshore substation.
Each 7MW Siemens Gamesa wind turbine consists of three, 75-metre fibre glass blades, a 90 metre-high tower and a nacelle (the head of the turbine).
The generation of first power marks another milestone for East Anglia ONE, and all of the turbines will be installed and operational in 2020.
Charlie Jordan, East Anglia ONE Project Director, said: “First power being generated at East Anglia ONE is a huge achievement.
“We are continuing to progress towards completion of the offshore windfarm and reaching this point is down to the incredible efforts of everyone involved, from local contractors and employees through to national and international businesses. We’ve worked hard to get to this point and look forward to continuing to work together to bring each turbine online.
“Once operational, East Anglia ONE will produce clean energy the UK needs, whilst also providing long-term jobs and opportunities to the people and businesses of East Anglia both now and in the future.”
Ed Northam, head of GIG in the UK and Europe, said: “First power is always an important milestone for any project and I congratulate the Scottish Power Renewables team working on the project from Great Yarmouth. This is an important project for Suffolk, and the UK, and we look forward to the day when all 102 state-of-the art turbines are producing green power.”
East Anglia ONE is the first of four offshore windfarms ScottishPower Renewables is developing in the region. For more information about East Anglia ONE visit: www.spreastanglia.co.uk