The Crown Estate has welcomed the inauguration this week of two further UK offshore wind farms with a combined capacity of 900 MW. On Wednesday 3 July the final phase of construction of the 270 MW Lincs offshore wind farm was formally recognised by joint owners Centrica Renewable Energy, Dong Energy and Siemens. The following day final completion of London Array, at 630 MW, currently the world’s largest operational offshore wind farm, was also announced.
This is a significant milestone for the UK, one which The Crown Estate celebrates as through its seabed management role it is playing a major part in the development of the offshore wind energy industry in the UK, helping to realise the clean energy potential of the seas. The offshore wind programme operational capacity is now 3.6 GW, equating to approximately 5 per cent of the UK’s electricity generation capacity.
The combined generation from these two offshore windfarms will reduce harmful CO₂ emissions by approximately 1.3 million tonnes per annum. Also they are sufficient to power approximately 700,000 homes, providing more than double the annual electricity demand of all the homes in Lincolnshire.
It’s another stage in the evolution of the offshore wind industry. These two windfarms will not only continue to position the UK as leading the world in installed capacity and supported by a strong pipeline of further projects, but has also established a platform for the wealth of knowledge and expertise to be exported around the globe.
The seventy-fifth and final 3.6 MW Siemens turbine was installed at Lincs at the end of March, paving the way for final commissioning of the £750m project. The wind farm will be managed from the established Grimsby shore base which already services the Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farms, both jointly owned by Centrica and TCW.
At London Array, a joint venture between DONG Energy, Eon and Masdar, the last of the 175 Siemens 3.6 MW turbines was commissioned on 6 April this year. The inauguration event held on 4 July marked completion of this signature project and was attended by the Prime Minister, David Cameron alongside other dignitaries including The Crown Estate’s Director of Energy and Infrastructure, Rob Hastings and Huub den Rooijen, Head of Offshore Wind. Construction began onshore four years ago on the electricity sub-station at Cleeve Hill in Kent. London Array’s Ramsgate support base has become home to the 70 or so technicians and 20 support staff required to operate and maintain the turbines and associated infrastructure.
As of the beginning of July, the UK now has 1,091 offshore wind turbines installed of which 1,037 are operational and 54 are being commissioned, with a further 250 in construction. Once complete, the combined capacity will amount to nearly 5 GW across 24 sites. The knowledge and experience gained from constructing and running the largest fleet of offshore wind turbines anywhere in the world places businesses operating in the UK at the forefront of innovation and skills in the sector and provides important opportunities for local people and businesses.
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Press release, July 5, 2013; Image: DONG Energy