DONG Energy installed its first wind turbine at Gunfleet Sands, off the Essex coast this morning.
The wind turbine is the UK’s first in the second round or “Round 2″ of constructing offshore wind farms as laid out and licensed by The Crown Estate in 2003. The project will have a capacity of 172 MW using 48 turbines at 3.6 MW each, and is due for completion by 2010.
Neils Bergh-Hansen, Executive Vice President at DONG Energy said “We have only come this far because of the splendid cooperation with The Crown Estate, The Department of Energy and Climate Change and other state and local authorities“.
The Energy and Climate Change Minister Mike O’Brien said “The installation of the first Round 2 offshore wind turbine is an important achievement for DONG Energy and helps to prove that the UK market is living up to its reputation as a global leader in offshore wind power. To continue the momentum for further deployment, we also announced funding to develop the next generation of (offshore) wind turbines earlier this week“.
Rob Hastings, Director of The Crown Estate’s Marine Estate said: “The Crown Estate welcomes the news of the installation of the first turbine at Gunfleet Sands. We are now seeing real progress on the construction of UK offshore wind farms. The first turbine at Gunfleet Sands is an important milestone as it marks the construction of the first of the fifteen Round 2 sites awarded by The Crown Estate in December 2003.”
Another step offshore was taken today by energy technology company StatoilHydro and Norwegian power utility Statkraft who announced that they are teaming up to develop the 315 MW Sheringham Shoal project off the coast of Norfolk, England.
Until now, the 315 MW Sheringham Shoal project has been owned 100% by StatoilHydro. Through an agreement, Statkraft will acquire 50% of the shares in the project, thus becoming an equal partner with StatoilHydro. An order for the total 88 wind turbines has now been placed.
The wind farm is planned to start production in 2011. When fully operational, its annual electricity production is expected to be around 1.1TWh, enough energy to power around 220,000 UK homes.
StatoilHydro and Statkraft are also collaborating with SSE and RWE on the joint venture Forewind, bidding for the third licensing round in the UK.
