The first eight of the 54 wind turbine nacelles for the 450 MW Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm have arrived at the Port of Dundee marshalling yard in Scotland. At the same time, the pre-assembly of the first wind turbine towers has also commenced on land for the Scottish project.
Each of the nacelles is 9.2 metres tall and weighs over 350 tonnes.
The Siemens Gamesa turbine towers being assembled at the Port of Dundeee, will tower 87.5 metres above the ground, ahead of load out.
This, and the arrival of the first eight nacelles, moves the project nearer to completion.
The first load out of turbine towers, nacelles, and blades for transportation to the site of the 450 MW offshore wind farm located 15.5 kilometres off the coast of Fife is scheduled for July, followed by the installation of NnG’s first fully assembled wind turbine out at sea, also planned for July.
The NnG turbine towers, each comprising three sections and weighing in at 370 tonnes, are stored on their sides within the port alongside the 81-metre-long turbine blades, which weigh 27 tonnes.
NnG’s 54 turbine towers will be assembled at the Port of Dundee before being placed on a specialist wind turbine installation vessel alongside nacelles and turbine blades which will transport them to, and install, the turbines at the site of the offshore wind farm.
The 54 jacket foundations, on which the Siemens Gamesa 8 MW wind turbines will sit, will be installed this year.
The Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm is owned by EDF Renewables UK and ESB. Once fully operational in 2024, the project will supply enough low-carbon electricity for around 375,000 homes and offset over 400,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.