The first Siemens Gamesa 7MW turbine has been installed at the 714MW East Anglia 1 offshore wind farm.
The installation of the first of 102 turbines marks the start of the final phase of the £2.5bn (€2.8bn) project’s construction, following a decade of development.
ScottishPower Renewables, part of Iberdrola, is developing the wind farm 43km off the Suffolk coast in the UK.
All of the turbine components are being pre-assembled and loaded out from Peel Ports Great Yarmouth, following ScottishPower Renewables’ £5m co-investment in the port to prepare it for construction and marshalling activity.
The components, consisting of 75-metre fibre glass blades, tower sections and nacelles, have been on view along the Great Yarmouth seafront and skyline as the 90 metre-high towers have been constructed and stood on the quayside.
ScottishPower Renewables is commited to spending over 50% of East Anglia 1’s project investment in the UK.
Each of the 306 fibre glass turbine blades have been manufactured by Siemens Gamesa at its factory in Hull, in the north-east of England, while some of the towers are being produced in Machrihanish, Scotland, by CSWind UK.
The work taking place at Peel Ports is being supported by several local companies and employees.
East Anglia 1 project director for ScottishPower Renewables Charlie Jordan said: “East Anglia 1 is already providing a significant boost to the local economy with over £70m being committed to date to companies across the East of England and further opportunities as the project becomes operational.
“Through the development of East Anglia 1, we are not only providing cleaner energy but an array of training and job opportunities for this generation and the next.”
Peel Ports Great Yarmouth director Richard Goffin said: “It is fantastic to see the investment into offshore renewables being made in our region. With the industry booming, and recent announcements made by the Crown Estate on potential future expansion, Great Yarmouth is at the forefront of the offshore sector, with tremendous potential to grow.”
To date, Peel Ports has invested £12m to extend the outer harbour to supply offshore projects, with further expansion planned, according to Goffin.
ScottishPower Renewables has also invested £25m in Associated British Ports’ Hamilton Dock, in Lowestoft, with the construction of an operations and maintenance base.