ScottishPower Renewables has selected Siemens Gamesa as preferred bidder to supply and install turbines for its 3100MW East Anglia Hub complex in the southern North Sea.
The developer said more than 200 14MW-plus turbines are planned for the £6.5bn project, which incorporates the 1.4GW East Anglia 3, 800MW East Anglia 1 North and 900MW East Anglia 2 sites.
Details of the deal were first reported in subscriber-only reNEWS on 3 December.
SPR and Siemens Gamesa are collaborating ahead of this year’s CfD4 auction to optimise the projects, with the ambition of then signing turbine supply and installation agreements.
The developer said the early preferred bidder agreement will allow the two companies to collaborate develop the turbine design and the Hub programme “hand-in-hand”, which will help achieve further efficiencies and maximise local supply chain opportunities.
“Taking advantage of the most innovative technology available to ensure East Anglia Hub is home to some of the biggest and most productive turbines on the market would allow us to realise even greater economies of scale, helping to deliver a cleaner and greener future for us all,” said Jonathan Cole who is offshore managing director at SPR’s parent company, Iberdrola.
Cole said he hoped the agreement will allow the two companies build on work carried out to realise the 714MW East Anglia One project, which features 102 Siemens Gamesa 7MW turbines.
SPR said East Anglia ONE supported almost 3500 jobs at the peak of construction and delivered 100 long-term skilled jobs.
Local content was driven by blade fabrication work in hull and the use of UK ports including Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.
“With SGRE selected as our preferred bidder, we can now take our efforts to the next level – building on the investment, bespoke facilities and economic benefits we’ve already delivered to support local people and jobs to create even longer-lasting legacies that benefit people and communities across the East of England,” Cole added.
Siemens Gamesa Chief Executive Andreas Nauen said he was “delighted” to be joining forces with SPR ahead of a CfD4 bid.
“This project’s development could be significant for many reasons, including the input that it will make to both the UK’s National Grid and to employment on the east coast of England.
“For Siemens Gamesa, the potential deployment of our most innovative offshore wind turbine would enable us to additionally aid the UK government’s plans for the green recovery by delivering clean energy and meaningful employment for years to come.”
East Anglia 3 is fully consented, with final decisions for the East Anglia 1 North and East Anglia 2 projects due later this year.
Construction of the East Anglia Hub is expected to commence in 2023, with completion in 2026.