The first blades manufactured at the Siemens Gamesa factory in Hull have left the facility for Dong Energy’s 573MW Race Bank offshore wind farm off the Norfolk coast.
The blades have been loaded onto A2Sea’s Sea Installer vessel and are being transported to the project site.
Dong Energy UK managing director Matthew Wright said: “This is a fantastic moment, not just for Race Bank, but for the whole offshore wind industry in the UK.
“To see the first blades made in Hull now loaded out and ready for installation at our project really underlines the strength of the UK supply chain to support the growth of offshore wind in this country.”
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy UK managing director Clark MacFarlane said: “This first load out represents a significant milestone in the story of how, in just a few years, we have helped increase the UK economic benefit of lower cost offshore wind and help make the Humber region a hub for low-cost, green energy expertise.”
Dong said installation of the blades and rest of the components is on track at Race Bank, with 25 turbines installed to date.
The wind farm is expected to be fully operational in 2018.
Image: Dong Energy
