Vattenfall shows off Kentish 2 gem

Vattenfall will officially inaugurate its 49.5MW Kentish Flats 2 offshore wind farm in the outer Thames Estuary today.

The project features 15 MHI Vestas V112-3.3MW turbines some 7km off Whitstable and Herne Bay. Construction was completed late last year.

Vattenfall wind vice president Gunnar Groebler said the Kent coast is now becoming a centre of excellence for the offshore wind industry with over 1GW deployed in recent years.

Groebler also said that solutions to engineering challenges on Kentish Flat 2 are helping Vattenfall towards a competitive and low cost fleet of offshore wind farms.

“Kentish Flats extension is a relatively small scheme which punches above its weight. Novel foundations, safer and quicker installation, new procedures, longer blades: these and other innovations mean that KFE is a flag bearer for knowledge driven cost reduction,” Groebler said.

He added: “Kentish Flats extension is an important addition to our European fleet of offshore wind farms. The innovation we have deployed takes Vattenfall on its next step towards really competitive offshore wind.

“It is also an important newcomer to offshore wind off the Kent coast. There is an important international centre of offshore wind excellence emerging along the Kent coast, supporting the local economy, and we are happy to be part of that success story.”

The existing 90MW Kentish Flats project was commissioned in 2005 and features 30 V90-3.0MW turbines.

Image: Kentish Flats (Vattenfall)