One of the world’s largest wind power projects ever has now begun development. The East Anglia offshore wind farm planned off the coast of Britain will supply up to 7,200 MW of clean renewable energy to the British electrical grid.
The wind power company IBERDROLA has started the development together along with its joint-venture partner, Swedish company Vattenfall.
So far, contracts for the construction of two weather monitoring stations for the wind farm complex have been awarded to the Scottish company Woods construction for €23 million. The contracts cover the fabrication, installation, and operation of the two stations located on the coast of Suffolk and Norfolk, which are expected to be completed by next summer.
The two stations “will measure the wind speed and direction, as well as temperature and air pressure for an area bigger than Norfolk, which will enable key technical and engineering decisions for the wind farm to be taken. Once they come into operation they will be among the most technically advanced weather facilities in the United Kingdom.”
The recent contract award to Woods construction now brings total investment so far into the East Anglia offshore wind far to €62 million. For a project still in the development phase, that’s a lot — just goes to show the enormity of this project.
“The project has the potential to deliver 7,200MW of installed capacity, which is capable of generating enough clean green energy to power 5 million homes and will be one of the world’s largest renewable energy projects.”
Iberdrola is planning to make offshore wind a large part of its future plans for growth, and is trying to become a leader in the development of this technology, which it has referred to as a potential second renewable-energy revolution.
“To achieve this goal, the Company’s Offshore Business Division, based in Scotland and offices in London, Berlin and Paris is developing its offshore wind project pipeline of over 11,000 MW across Northern Europe.”
Iberdrola already has renewable energy operations in more than 23 countries, making it the world leader in both installed capacity, 14,100 MW at the end of June 2012, and in power output — over 16.9 billion kilowatt-hours were generated just in the first half of 2012.
Source: NewEnergyNews
Image Credits: Vattenfall, Ben Barden
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