Greater Gabbard Wind Farm

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The first wind turbines have started being installed at Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm.

The wind farm, which is located 25 kilometres off the coast of Suffolk, will comprise 140 wind turbines and, when fully operational, will have a capacity of 504 megawatts. This will be enough electricity to power around 530,000 homes*

Currently, 69 turbine foundations are in place and the remainder will be constructed over the coming months. This will be closely followed by the installation of the wind turbines. The components for the wind turbines have been arriving by sea at Harwich and their installation is expected to continue through to the end of the project, depending on weather and sea conditions.

Project Manager Vince Read from RWE npower renewables said, “The installation of the first wind turbines represents a significant step in the construction of Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm. We are on course to complete the wind farm in 2012.”

The 3.6 megawatt wind turbines are being connected to the grid via an onshore substation at Sizewell in Suffolk. Buried cables connect the turbines to the substation, while underground cables owned by National Grid Electricity Transmission will connect the sub-station to the National Grid. A permanent operations base has been established at the port of Lowestoft.

Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Limited is a 50/50 joint venture partnership between Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and RWE npower renewables. RWE npower renewables and SSE will share the electricity output 50-50.

* Based on site specific met mast data indicating a load factor of at least 40%, and based on household consumption of 3,300kWh a year.