Photo credit: Dong Energy
Danish energy company Dong Energy this week completed the installation of the first of 32 8MW wind turbines at the Burbo Bank Extension offshore wind farm off the coast of Liverpool, England.
At 195 meters tall, the MHI Vestas 8MW turbines are the largest in the world, and this marks their first installation in an offshore wind farm.
The turbine was installed this week using the wind turbine installation vessel, Sea Installer, owned by offshore wind farm installation and services company A2SEA.
Claus Bøjle Møller, Project Director at DONG Energy, said: “The installation of this world-first technology shows that DONG Energy is leading the way in offshore wind energy. By using bigger turbines, we’re able to bring down the cost of providing clean, renewable energy to homes around the UK. This first turbine is a significant achievement for the project, and we’re looking forward to producing the first green energy later this year.”
Burbo Bank Extension is owned by DONG Energy. The wind farm has a total capacity of 258MW and is situated 6 km from shore in Liverpool Bay. The wind farm is expected to be fully commissioned in the first half of 2017 and will provide green energy for well over 230,000 homes in the UK.
”We were all very excited about the installation of the first turbine,” says Jan Riisgaard, Master of the Sea Installer. “This is the first time ever, MHI Vestas’ 8MW turbine has been installed offshore. We used their new patented lifting tool and our newly extended boom. Our experienced crew did a great job in both handling the new equipment and the new components. Furthermore, the teamwork between A2SEA and MHI Vestas went very smoothly and effectively. Now, we look forward to installing the remaining 31.”
The 80-meter long blades for the turbine arrived in Belfast, Northern Ireland in July for pre-assembly after being built at MHI Vestas manufacturing facility on the Isle of Wight. They are the first domestically-built blades to be installed at a UK offshore wind power plant.
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