The world’s largest offshore windfarm off the Yorkshire coast is to supply its first power to the UK electricity grid this week. Could it fill the gap left by a failing nuclear industry? When fully operational next year, Hornsea One will be the largest windfarm in the world. Its 174 Siemens 7MW turbines will generate enough electricity (1.2GW) to reportedly power more than one million homes. The electricity generated by the turbines 120km off of the Yorkshire coast will pass through one of three offshore substations, before being carried by three high voltage subsea cables (245kV). Danish developer Ørsted’s project propels the offshore wind power sector to a new scale; Hornsea One will cover 407 sqkm – almost eight-times the size of Norwich [see map below]. The UK committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050, relative to 1990 levels, but the question remains just how can this be achieved? Offshore windfarms could help fulfill this. Additionally it could aid the low carbon power gap created as a result of Hitachi and Toshiba recently scrapping nuclear plant projects in Wales and Cumbria. Hitachi followed Toshiba’s move and halted work on the Welsh site earlier this year due to rising costs. Hitachi’s action came as a blow to the UK’s future energy supply plans, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) previously said. It planned to create 2.9GW of energy, this more than double Hornsea One’s output. However, Hornsea Project Two was granted consent by the Secretary of State for Energy in 2016. The project will reportedly consist of up to 300 turbines and could power up to 1.6 million homes per year. Hornsea Project Three has also been proposed. According to Ørsted it could be capable of generating up to 2.4GW of electricity, enough to meet the average daily needs of more than 2 million homes.
The Manufacturer 12th Feb 2019 read more »
Production of the first turbine blade for the 714-MW East Anglia One offshore windfarm off the east coast of the UK has been completed. The blade was manufactured by Siemens Gamesa at its factory at Green Port Hull and is the first of 306 which will be manufactured at the site. Inspection of the blade, and sign-off by the East Anglia One project team, was completed on 7 February. The £2.5BN East Anglia ONE project will see 102 Siemens Gamesa turbines installed, each with a capacity of 7 MW. Scottish Renewables East Anglia One project director Charlie Jordan described the manufacture of the first blade as an important milestone for the project. “Fabrication of the blades at Siemens Gamesa’s facility in Hull further demonstrates our commitment to spending over 50% of the value of the project investment in the UK.” Following production at the Green Port factory, blades will be shipped down the coast to Great Yarmouth, where the turbine components will be pre-assembled following a £5 million investment to prepare Peel Ports Great Yarmouth for construction and installation activities.
Offshore Wind Journal 13th Feb 2019 read more »
Great Yarmouth Mercury 12th Feb 2019 read more »
Danish developer Ørsted is to build the largest offshore wind farm in the world by 2020, Hornsea One, with enough capacity to power over a million homes.
Compelo 12th Feb 2019 read more »
