Masdar and ScottishPower set UK record for offshore wind turbine blades
ScottishPower and Masdar have set a UK record for the longest blade installation at an offshore wind farm.
The first turbine installed at the $5.4 billion East Anglia THREE project features 115-metre blades — the biggest manufactured and used in the UK, with each one longer than a Premier League football pitch.
Impressive statistics
All 285 blades for the project’s 14MW turbines — 95 in total — are being manufactured at Siemens Gamesa’s factory in the north England city of Hull.
When complete, the 1.4GW East Anglia THREE project will produce enough clean power for more than 1.3 million homes.
At 262 metres, the turbines stand higher than the observation deck at The Shard, Britain’s tallest building.
Each turbine has a rotor diameter of 236 metres, and one single revolution will produce enough electricity to power a home for more than four days, charge about 1,700 mobile phones, or brew almost 1,000 cups of tea.
Defining moment
ScottishPower — part of Iberdrola Group — has invested $41 billion in the UK over 15 years. Its ScottishPower Renewables business has 40-plus operational offshore and onshore wind farms and solar sites, generating enough green electricity to power about two million homes.
Charlie Jordan, ScottishPower Renewables’ CEO, described the installation as a UK industry first and a defining moment for ScottishPower, Iberdrola and Masdar as we “celebrate and accelerate the deployment of homegrown renewable energy at scale”.
He continued: “East Anglia THREE will be the biggest and most powerful offshore wind farm in our portfolio.
“That means billions invested in the UK and global supply chains. East Anglia THREE will play a crucial role in the UK’s clean energy future.”
Wind power at scale
Located off the Suffolk coast, it will become one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms when it comes into operation. More than 2,300 jobs have been supported during construction.
“We see tremendous potential for offshore wind, not just in the UK but across the wider European market, where offshore wind can provide critical energy security, power economic progress, and help nations achieve their clean energy objectives,” said Husain Al Meer, Director of Global Offshore Wind at Masdar.
The East Anglia THREE turbine blades are seven metres longer than the previous record.
“These are the biggest blades ever built for a project in UK waters — a real landmark for offshore wind,” added Darren Davidson, UK Head of Siemens Energy and Siemens Gamesa.
