First power for East Anglia ONE

The East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm has generated its first power, taking a step towards completion. The first of the 102  Siemens Gamesa SWT-7.0-154 turbines to begin generating power is known as WTG E19, and exported power to the  onshore substation at Burstall, near Bramford in Suffolk.

Engineers have already started commissioning further turbines and more power will come online at regular intervals. So far 25 turbines have been fully constructed. The power generated from the turbines is transferred ashore via subsea and underground cables. It is first routed through an offshore substation installed at the array to prevent transmission losses.

Turbines are being pre-assembled and loaded out from Peel Ports Great Yarmouth to the windfarm site 43km from the coast. Each 7MW Siemens Gamesa wind turbine consists of three, 75-metre fibre glass blades, a 90 metre-high tower and a nacelle.

Charlie Jordan, East Anglia ONE Project Director, said: “First power being generated at East Anglia ONE is a huge achievement.

“We are continuing to progress towards completion of the offshore windfarm and reaching this point is down to the incredible efforts of everyone involved, from local contractors and employees through to national and international businesses. We’ve worked hard to get to this point and look forward to continuing to work together to bring each turbine online.

“Once operational, East Anglia ONE will produce clean energy the UK needs, whilst also providing long-term jobs and opportunities to the people and businesses of East Anglia both now and in the future.”

Ed Northam, head of GIG in the UK and Europe, said: “First power is always an important milestone for any project and I congratulate the Scottish Power Renewables team working on the project from Great Yarmouth. This is an important project for Suffolk, and the UK, and we look forward to the day when all 102 state-of-the art turbines are producing green power.”

The East Anglia ONE project is owned by Iberdrola’s UK subsidiary, ScottishPower Renewables, and Green Investment Group who acquired a 40% stake in the project back in August 2019. With an overall capacity of 714 MW capacity, East Anglia ONE is the first of four projects Iberdrola is developing in the East Anglia region to begin construction and is expected to power 630,000 homes.

ScottishPower Renewables is a sponsor of EEEGR’s 2019 East Anglian Offshore Wind Week Event, being held in November. A spokesperson will provide updates and some information on the company’s plan for its projects off the East Anglian coastline.

Now in its fifth successful year, EEEGR welcomes members across the supply chain companies to the event which forms part of renewable UK’s national programme of celebrations of all that is good about offshore wind. With over 50% of installed capacity of offshore wind off the coast of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, the East of England is at the very epicentre of offshore wind nationally and internationally.