The 1.4 GW East Anglia THREE offshore windfarm will be the biggest-ever windfarm in global energy group Iberdrola – and among the largest in the world when it comes into operation at the end of 2026 – producing enough clean energy to power the equivalent of over 1 million homes.
The project’s latest phase – successful installation of a huge offshore jacket foundation – has been hailed as “the biggest feat of engineering we’ve ever undertaken” by the East Anglia THREE team behind the £4bn build.
The imposing steel structure – located 69km off the Suffolk coast in the North Sea – will house ScottishPower Renewables’ first-ever HVDC offshore converter station.
Weighing in at around 3,700 tonnes and standing 59 metres high, the four-legged jacket foundation is now fixed to the seabed at a water depth of 36m.
The installation was completed by Heerema Marine Contractors’ SSCV Sleipnir – the biggest crane vessel in the world – after sailing in from Aker Solutions’ Verdal fabrication yard in Norway.
Pedro Fernandez, ScottishPower Renewables’ East Anglia THREE Project Director, said: “The offshore construction programme for East Anglia THREE is the biggest feat of engineering we’ve ever undertaken – to see 3,700 tonnes of steel lifted safely and securely into place, with exacting and medical precision, is a truly impressive sight.
“This is the latest milestone for the project and is testament to the tremendous teamwork with our supply chain partners, so my thanks to everyone involved from ScottishPower, Aker Solutions and Heerema.
“We’ll have many more EA THREE moments to celebrate as the installation of the turbine foundations progresses, the fit-out of the converter station topside nears completion and we put in place the inter-array cable network that will connect the turbines to the converter station and take us closer to first power. It’s going to be a busy and exciting year!”
The installation of the East Anglia THREE offshore converter station foundation jacket was also supported by tugs Bylgia, Skandi Handler and EEMS Wrangler as well as the guard vessel, Tess.
ScottishPower is part of Iberdrola, a global energy leader and top producer of wind power, with more than 39GW of renewable projects operating across the world and a pipeline of 100GW of renewable projects.
Responsible for progressing Iberdrola’s renewable energy projects in the UK, ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) manages the development, construction and operation of offshore windfarms throughout the world and onshore renewables in the UK and Ireland.
SPR currently has over 40 operational windfarm sites generating more than 3GW of renewable energy – that’s enough green electricity to power around two million homes.
Through ScottishPower, Iberdrola is investing £24 billion in the UK between 2024 and 2028 – or £18 million every working day.
This includes bringing the £4 billion East Anglia THREE offshore windfarm, currently under construction, into operation in 2026 and delivering the £4 billion East Anglia TWO windfarm in 2028.
Together these will provide enough homegrown clean energy to power the equivalent of more than 2.3 million homes. The company also continues investing in new onshore wind, solar PV and battery projects.
