The Blauwwind consortium has installed the first MHI Vestas turbine at the 732MW Borssele 3&4 offshore wind project in the Dutch North Sea.
MHI Vestas installed the first of the project’s 77 V164-9.5MW turbines after setting sail from the Port of Vlissingen on Van Oord’s Aeolus offshore installation vessel.
MHI Vestas chief operations officer Flemming Ougaard said: “First turbine installation at Borssele 3&4 is a key milestone for the MHI Vestas team, who are working hard to deliver offshore wind projects across Europe in the midst of the Covid-19 challenge.
“Our teams have been working exceptionally diligently to prepare all components of the 77 wind turbines for Borssele 3&4, and we are pleased to have installation of the V164-9.5 WTGs underway.”
Borssele 3&4 is being developed by the Blauwwind consortium and is located 55km off the coast of the Netherlands.
The offshore wind farm will supply 2.3% total electricity demand in the Netherlands once fully operational.
Blauwwind project director Roeland Borsboom added: “After completion of the foundations in April, the start of the turbine installation phase marks the next crucial and exciting step in the project.
“Blauwwind and MHI Vestas have been collaborating well on design and fabrication, and we are now focusing on safe offshore works.
“Commissioning of the first string of turbines is expected in the course of the third quarter of 2020. That is when we expect to start production of power for our customers.”
The Blauwwind consortium comprises Partners Group, Shell, Eneco, Diamond Generating Europe and Van Oord.