Vattenfall will later today officially open its 93.2MW Aberdeen Bay offshore wind farm off the coast of Scotland.
The project, which is also known as the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC), comprises two MHI Vestas V164 8.8MW turbines and nine 8.4MW machines.
Swire Blue Ocean jack-up Pacific Orca installed the hardware from the Danish port of Esbjerg.
The turbines are supported by 11 suction bucket foundations, which were installed by balance of plant contractor Boskalis and fabricated by Smulders.
VBMS installed the project’s 66kV JDR-made export and array cables. The wind farm exported first power in early July.
RenewableUK chief executive Hugh McNeal said: “This project is a great example of modern offshore wind energy infrastructure being built here in UK waters. These turbines, foundations and cables are state-of-the art pieces of big kit which help developers to build projects faster and produce more power, more cheaply.
“Investing in this kind of innovative technology is central to the offshore wind industry’s ambition to meet a third of the UK’s power needs by 2030.”
“Scottish Renewables chief executive Claire Mack said: “This project is significant on a global stage. The developments and research which are taking place in Aberdeen place Scotland at the very forefront of offshore wind innovation and cement the city’s reputation as an energy powerhouse.
“Industry and government, both in Edinburgh and London, must continue to work together to deliver offshore wind, reducing the carbon emissions which cause climate change and at the same time delivering economic benefits for the whole country.”
Image: Vattenfall
Aberdeen Bay ready to party
By EBS