Wind Energy Power Plants in the UK - offshore

Beatrice Field Location: Offshore Ross-shire Operator: Talisman Energy (UK) Ltd Configuration: 2 X 5-MW 5M Operation: 2007 WTG supplier: REpower EPC: AMEC, REpower Quick facts: In Apr 2005, Talisman Energy and Scottish and Southern awarded AMEC a contract to design and manage delivery of two 5-MW wind turbines for the Beatrice wind farm demonstration project. The scheme demonstrates the feasibility of siting WTGs in deepwater (45m in this instance) at a site 25km offshore and 70km northeast of Inverness in the Beatrice oil field. The first WTG was set in August 2006 and came online in May 2007 with the second following in Aug. Photograph courtesy of REpower Systems AG Posted 28 Jan 2007	Blyth Offshore Location: Northumberland Operator: AMEC Border Wind Configuration: 2 X 2-MW V66 Operation: 2000 WTG supplier: Vestas Quick facts: These were the first truly offshore WTGs installed in the UK. Photograph courtesy of AMEC Border Wind Posted 15 Nov 2003	Burbo Bank Location: Lancashire Operator: Dong (UK) Ltd Configuration: 25 X 3.6-MW SWT-3.6-107 Operation: 2007 WTG supplier: Siemens Wind Quick facts: These machines were erected in less than 1.5mos at a site 12km offshore Wallasey in Liverpool Bay, well ahead of schedule. During construction, Siemens leased a 45,000 m² site at Mostyn in North Wales. The 65m steel towers were assembled upright and all systems were tested before they were loaded onto the installation vessel which carried towers, nacelles, hubs and blades for 3 turbines per trip to the site area. Each 500t wind turbine was erected in five heavy lifts with a maximum weight of approximately 185t. The average erection time per turbine was less than half a day. Photograph courtesy of Siemens Posted 11 Jul 2007
Greater Gabbard Location: Suffolk Operator: Airtricity Holdings Ltd Configuration: 140 X 3.6-MW SWT-3.6-107 Operation: 2010 WTG supplier: Siemens Wind Power EPC: Fluor Quick facts: Greater Gabbard was completed in Sep 2012 and became the largest offshore winfarm in the world. It is a 50:50 joint venure of Airtricity Holdings (SSE) and RWE npower renewables. The site is 25km offshore the Suffolk coast and is connected via 3 main subsea cables to a 132kV substation at Sizewell. Photograph courtesy of RWE npower renewables Posted 12 Sep 2012	Gunfleet Sands Location: Norfolk Operator: Dong Energy UK Configuration: 48 X 3.6-MW SWT-3.6-107 Operation: 2010 WTG supplier: Siemens Wind Power EPC: Dong Energy, MT Højgaard Quick facts: Gunfleet Sands is 7km off the Essex coast opposite Clacton-on-Sea and the subsea cable connection makes landfall just northeast of Holland-on-Sea. The project was first identified in 1996 by Windmaster Developments, acquired by Enron in 2000, purchased by GE in 2002, and then purchased by Dong Energy. Final consents were awarded in Mar 2004 for Phase-I and in Mar 2008 for Phase-II. The turbines are spaced a 435m and the turbine rows are about 890m apart. The total surface area of the site is approximately 15km². The maximum height of the blade tip above sea level is 129m. Due to the very varying water depths the installation was carried out by the use of the large floating crane "Svanen" and the jack-up barge "Excalibur". Photograph courtesy of Osprey Shipping Ltd Posted 1 May 2010	Kentish Flats Location: Norfolk Operator: Dong Energy UK Configuration: 30 X 3-MW V90 Operation: 2005 WTG supplier: Vestas Quick facts: At completion, this was the largest offshore wind farm in the U.K. and the V90 machines are the largest built in the British Isles as well. Kentish Flats is expected to produce 285 GWh/yr of electricity. Photograph courtesy of Elsam Posted 17 Dec 2005
Lincs Offshore Location: Lincolnshire Operator: Lincs Wind Farm Ltd Configuration: 75 X 3.6-MW SWT-3.6-120 Operation: 2013 WTG supplier: Siemens Wind Power EPC: Rambøll Danmark A/S, ISC Consulting Engineers A/S, MT Højgaard Quick facts: The final WTG at Lincs Offshore was installed on 31 Mar 2013. The site is 8km off the coast of Skegness in water depths of 8.5 to 16.3m. Construction was staged from Esbjerg, Denmark. The monopiles weighed from 320-480t. Lincs Wind Farm is a JV of Centrica Energy, DONG Energy and Siemens Project Ventures. Photograph courtesy of Centrica Posted 7 Apr 2013	London Array Offshore Location: Kent Operator: London Array Ltd Configuration: 175 X 3.6-MW SWT-3.6-120 Operation: 2013 WTG supplier: Siemens Wind Power EPC: COWI, Bilfinger Berger, Per Aarsleff Quick facts: London Array sited 20km off the east coast of Britain was the world's largest offshore wind plant at completion. The location comprises 245km² of low-tide sand banks marking the entry to the shipping route into London via the Thames. Approximately 10km further in-shore is the Gunfleet Sands wind plan opened in Jun 2010. Development at the London Array began in Feb 2003. Construction on the new onshore substation at Cleve Hill started in Jul 2009 and was completed in Oct 2012. Offshore construction started in Mar 2011, when the first foundation was installed. The first WTG went up in Jan 2012, first power was in Oct 2012 and the final turbine (shown) was installed in Dec 2012. It was commissiond at 16.09 on 6 Apor 2013 marking project completion. The project is a JV of DONG Energy ( 50%), E.ON (30%), and Masdar (20%). The stated project cost was €2.2bn. Photograph courtesy of London Array Ltd Posted 17 Apr 2013	Lynn/Inner Dowsing Location: Lincolnshire Operator: Centrica Energy Configuration: 54 X 3.6-MW SWT-3.6-107 Operation: 2008 WTG supplier: Siemens EPC: RES, Rambøll A/S, MT Højgaard Quick facts: The Lynn complex is 5.2km offshore Skegness while Inner Dowsing is 5.2km offshore Ingoldmells. The concessions were acquired by Centrica from RES in Dec 2003 and construction tenders issued in 2006. The final contracts were awarded in Feb 2007 for the offshore and onshore work, including a new substations in Skegness. First power to the grid was in May 2008 and the last machine was installed the following month. Nexans supplied 72km of 36kV HV submarine cable. The projects cost around £300m and Ode was owner's consultant. Photograph courtesy of Centrica Posted 4 Apr 2009
North Hoyle Location: Offshore Flintshire Operator: RWE npower Renewables Configuration: 30 X 2-MW V80 Operation: 2004 WTG supplier: Vestas Photograph courtesy of and copyright by National Wind Power Posted 5 May 2004	Robin Rigg Location: Dumfries and Galloway Operator: E.ON UK Renewables Ltd Configuration: 60 X 3 MW V90 Operation: 2010 WTG supplier: Vestas EPC: Vestas, MT Hojgaard Quick facts: Robin Rigg was commissioned on 16 Apr 2010 as the largest operating offshore wind park in the UK. The project was acquired by E.ON UK Renewables in autumn 2003. The site is in Solvay firth is 9km off Balcary Point and about the same distance from Seaton, Cumbria, where the transmission cables make landfall. The turnkey construction contract was awarded in Dec 2006. Robin Rigg cost about €500mn. Photograph courtesy of E.ON UK Posted 17 Apr 2010	Rhyl Flats Location: Caernarfonshire (Wales) Operator: RWE npower renewables Configuration: 25 X 3.6-MW SWT-3.6-107 Operation: 2009 WTG supplier: Siemens Wind Power EPC: Rambøll A/S, MT Højgaard Quick facts: Rhyl Flats was built offshore Abergele, North Wales, in water depths of 6.5 to 12.5m. The design and fabrication of the foundations took place during the second half of 2007, and installation of the foundations was carried out during the spring/summer of 2008. Photograph courtesy of RWE Posted 7 Apr 2013
Scroby Sands Location: Norfolk Operator: E.ON UK Renewables Configuration: 30 X 2-MW V80 Operation: 2004 WTG supplier: Vestas Quick facts: The Scroby Sands wind farm is in the North Sea, 2.5km off the coast of Great Yarmouth. The 60m turbines are on hollow 4.5m steel towers in from 13 to 20m of water. The tower foundations were piled up to 30m into the sea bed. Photograph courtesy of and copyright by E.ON UK Posted 15 Jan 2005		Thanet Location: Offshore Kent Operator: Vattenfall Wind Configuration: 100 X 3-MW V90 Operation: 2010 WTG supplier: Vestas EPC: Vestas, Vattenfall, A2SEA Quick facts: When officially opened on 23 Sep 2010, Thanet was the world's largest offshore wind farm. The installation is in the English Channel about 11km offshore Margate. Thanet took 2yrs to build and cost about €880mn. The towers are up to 115m tall and are placed in 10-25m of water over a 35km² site. Two subsea cables manufacture by Prysmian Group connect to an onshore substation at Richborough and this connects to the 132kV grid. Photograph courtesy of Vattenfall Posted 9 Oct 2010

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