ScottishPower Renewables has asked for permission from the UK government to allow its fully consented 1400MW East Anglia 3 offshore wind farm to use larger turbines.
Existing consents awarded to the project in 2017 allow for up to 172 turbines at the 305 square kilometre project, each with rotors up to 220 metres in diameter and tip heights of 242 metres.
The developer is looking to reduce the maximum turbine number at the project to 121 and has asked planners to allow EA3 to use machines with rotors diameters up to 230 metres and tip heights reaching 262 metres.
In a letter requesting the changes sent to the UK department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the developer said the tweaks will “allow the project to take advantage of advancing technologies and realise efficiencies to deliver a reduction in levelised energy costs”.
The developer is also seeking to reduce the current maximum number of HVAC offshore substations at the project from six to one.
The so-called non-material change application has asked to change the parameters for the offshore substation’s foundation.
The maximum number of legs for the platform could be increased from four to six, with each leg using up-to four pin piles to attach to the seabed.
The developer is aiming to build out the EA3 as part of the 3.1GW East Anglia hub complex alongside its unconsented 800MW East Anglia One North and 900MW East Anglia 2 projects.
Interested parties have until 30 September to provide feedback on the planned changes.