ScottishPower Renewables has completed installation of the offshore substation at its 714MW East Anglia 1 wind farm off the east coast of England.
The 4200-tonne topside was hoisted onto its 2600-tonne jacket foundation by Seaway Heavy Lifting crane vessel Oleg Strashnov. Spanish yard Navantia built both structures.
The supersize substation is the only one to feature at the 102-turbine project and stands some 58 metres above the sea, SPR said.
It added that a 60-strong team of electrical engineers will now work round the clock to complete the commissioning of the substation over the next four months.
The team will work from GMS jack-up Endeavour which is positioned next to the substation for the hookup and commissioning job.
“The offshore substation is the single largest and most complex piece of kit that we will build for this project, so it is good to see the structure safely in place,” East Anglia 1 project director Charlie Jordan said.
“Now we will press on with the intricate electrical work, and continue with the installation of the turbine foundations,” he added.
GeoSea company A2Sea will begin installing the project’s Siemens Gamesa 7MW turbines from next spring.
Photo: ScottishPower Renewables
Topside touchdown at EA1
By EBS