MHI Vestas and Fred Olsen Windcarrier have installed the first of 100 turbines at the 950MW Moray East offshore wind farm off the east coast of Scotland.
Pre-assembly work is being undertaken at Global Energy’s facility at Nigg, after which components are loaded on to the installation vessel Bold Tern and taken to the project site in the Moray Firth.
Installation of each MHI Vestas V164-9.5MW turbine comprises five lifts, the developer said.
Moray East turbine package manager Ewan Watson said: “A turbine is the most iconic representation of the new offshore wind industry, and I am delighted to issue images of Moray East’s first turbine, a proudly towering 200 metres representation of engineering success against some of the most challenging circumstances the world has known.”
Moray East head of construction Enrique Alvarez Cordobes said: “This has demanded precision engineering with massive components, requiring excellent co-operation and co-ordination between a range of companies both on land and at sea, and I would like to offer my thanks and congratulations to all those who have made this most distinctive and visible milestone possible.”
Moray East project director Marcel Sunier said: “Moray East is the country’s largest infrastructure project, and a massive amount of effort – represented by tonnes of steel and kilometres of cable – much of this below ground or sea – have been required to get us to this point.
“I am delighted to be able to announce one of the project’s most visible and distinctive milestones – the safe and successful installation of our first wind turbine.
“This is a truly amazing team effort considering the circumstances under which the teams had to work to achieve that important milestone.
“The resilience and good co-operation was one of the key factors in achieving this.
“I am looking forward to see the remaining 99 wind turbines being installed safely and successfully during the forthcoming months and wish to thank all those involved in making this happen.”
The wind farm is being developed by Moray Offshore Windfarm East, which is a joint venture company owned by Diamond Green (33.4%), EDPR (33.3 %), Engie (23.3%) and CTG (10%).