Second Neart na Gaoithe Offshore Substation Coming Up

Wind Farm Update

December 6, 2022, by Adrijana Buljan

The topside for the second offshore substation (OSS) for the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm in Scotland is due to be installed over the coming days, starting on or around 9 December.

Illustration; Neart na Gaoithe South OSS, the project's first OSS; Photo source: HSM Offshore

The 450 MW wind farm, jointly owned by EDF Renewables and ESB, is being built 15 kilometres off the coast of Fife, Scotland.

The first of Neart na Gaoithe’s two offshore substations, South OSS, was installed in June by Heerema Marine Contractors, using the world’s largest crane vessel Sleipnir, and was followed by the installation of the jacket for the North OSS.

While the commissioning of the South OSS is ongoing, the project’s North OSS topside is up for installation this month, with the work expected to be completed by the end of December, weather permitting.

The topside will be brought to the site by the Wagenborg 7 barge, assisted by two tugs, Eraclea and Fram Prince.

The crew transfer vessel (CTV) Rix Lion will continue to support the South offshore substation commissioning activities and will also support the North OSS installation activities as required.

Offshore construction at the project site offshore Scotland is well underway, with the first ten wind turbine jacket foundations now in place and the installation of the remaining piles resuming at wind turbine locations.

Neart na Gaoithe will comprise 54 Siemens Gamesa 8 MW wind turbines which are scheduled to be put into full operation in 2024.

Once fully operational, the offshore wind farm will supply enough electricity for around 375,000 homes and offset over 400,000 tonnes of Co2 emissions each year.