The Teesside offshore wind farm has reached an important milestone with the installation of the project’s first turbine.
Operator EDF Energy Renewables has now completed the installation of the tower, nacelle and rotor blades of the first of the 27, 2.3MW wind turbine generators to be erected on the 62MW scheme.
Commissioning tests on the new installation will be carried out ahead of electricity generation beginning in the forthcoming weeks.
Installation of the turbines is being undertaken with the MPI Adventure, a six leg jack up vessel, owned by the Stokesley-based MPI Offshore. With the change in project vessel SeaRoc has been appointed as principal contractor to oversee the completion of the project.
The wind farm, located 1.5km off the North East coast at Redcar, is the first UK offshore development undertaken by EDF Energy Renewables.
Work on the installation of the remaining wind turbine generators continues and, allowing for periods where the weather conditions will prevent construction works taking place, it is expected that the erection of all wind turbine generators will be completed in Spring 2013.
Christian Egal, Chief Executive of EDF Energy Renewables , said: “The installation of the first offshore turbine on our first offshore scheme is a landmark event for the company, supporting the expansion of our onshore wind farm capacity over recent years.
“Renewable energy will continue to play a key part of the country’s energy mix going forward and the construction of this latest project demonstrates our ongoing commitment to investing in low carbon technologies.
“Developing a range of diverse energy sources is crucial to addressing climate change, ensuring security of supply and providing affordable energy for all. The new Teesside offshore wind farm will make a significant contribution to all these challenges and we are delighted that electricity will soon be generated from the site.”
EDF Energy Renewables already has 21 operational onshore wind farms contributing 300MW of low carbon electricity in the UK. Including the Teesside scheme, a further 224MW of additional capacity is currently under construction.
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Press release, January 15, 2013; Image: mhwpr