ScottishPower Renewables has begun onshore construction for its 1400MW East Anglia 3 offshore wind farm.
The initial focus of the EA 3 construction programme will be on the onshore converter station at Bramford in Suffolk – in partnership with Siemens Energy and Aker Solutions – and along the cable route, working with contractor, NKT.
Work on the construction access road at the onshore converter station has started and drainage and earthworks are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Highway works for the three construction compounds along the cable corridor are also underway, with three access roads and one compound expected to be complete by the end of August.
The wind farm is part of East Anglia Hub, which will support up to 7000 jobs and 200 training opportunities.
The £6.5bn hub will deliver around 3GW of clean power in total.
Ross Ovens, ScottishPower Renewables’ Managing Director – Offshore, East Anglia Hub, said: “Energy in the UK has become a critical issue in recent months – not just for those of us who work in the industry – but for everyone. And the solution is simple – more green electricity made in the UK for the UK. Not in 10, 15 or 20 years, but now.
“Net zero climate change ambitions, energy security and the rising cost of living all point to the need for speed in delivering a greener, more self-sufficient future.
“Starting construction on EA THREE takes us one step closer to that reality and it’s great to see that happen so soon after the project’s success in Allocation Round 4.”
Mark Pilling, VP for HV Grids at Siemens Energy, said: “East Anglia THREE will see us work with our partners on creating the green electricity infrastructure for an offshore windfarm that will have a 1,400MW capacity, and with it the potential to power 1.3 million homes.
“This includes the construction of a HVDC converter station at Bramford. The project represents a significant step towards delivering on the UK’s energy transition and progressing to a net zero future.”