The first of 32 wind turbines has been successfully installed at Burbo Bank Extension offshore wind farm, under construction by DONG Energy in Liverpool Bay. The project is a joint partnership between DONG Energy (50%), PKA (25%) and KIRKBI A/S (25%).
The MHI Vestas 8MW turbines are taller than the Gherkin in London (180m), standing at 195m. It is the first time they have ever been used in an offshore wind farm. Once completed the 258MW wind farm will generate enough electricity to power over 230,000 UK homes.
Claus Bøjle Møller, project director, said: “The installation of this world-first technology shows DONG Energy is really leading the way in offshore wind energy. By using bigger turbines we are able to bring down the cost of providing clean, renewable energy to homes around the UK. This positive milestone is a significant achievement for the project and we look forward to producing more green energy here in Liverpool Bay.”
As well as using the biggest turbines in the world, the 80m blades for the new 8MW turbines will also be the first locally built blades to be installed at a UK offshore wind farm, having been designed, tested, and manufactured on the Isle of Wight and assembled at MHI Vestas’ pre-assembly facility in Belfast.
