Abu dhabi: Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC - Masdar and ScottishPower Renewables have successfully reached a significant engineering milestone at the £4 billion East Anglia THREE offshore wind farm. This achievement marks the completion of the installation of all 95 foundations off the Suffolk coast.
According to Emirates News Agency, the monopiles, which weigh between 1,200-1,800 tonnes and stand 67-84 metres tall with a diameter of up to 10.6 metres, are the largest to be installed from a jack-up vessel in Europe. Additionally, all 95 transition pieces, each standing 20 metres high, 8 metres in diameter, and weighing over 400 tonnes, have been installed.
The ongoing turbine installation signifies continued offshore and onshore construction efforts, aiming for East Anglia THREE to become fully operational by the end of 2026. Once completed, the wind farm will deliver 1.4GW of domestic clean power to the UK.
Husain Al Meer, Executive Director, Global Offshore Wind and UK at Masdar, stated, "The completion of foundation installation at East Anglia THREE is a significant milestone and a remarkable engineering achievement. It reflects the strength of our partnership with ScottishPower and the expertise of the project team and contractors, particularly Seaway7."
Charlie Jordan, CEO of ScottishPower Renewables, highlighted the project's scale by noting the use of more than 200,000 tonnes of steel anchored into a seabed area the size of almost 43,000 football pitches. "It's mind-blowing," he said, as they progress with the installation of the 95 turbines featuring 115-metre blades, the largest built and used in the UK.
Seaway7, responsible for delivering the foundation installation, utilized its jack-up vessel, Seaway Ventus, marking its first foundation installation campaign. Lloyd Duthie, CEO of Seaway7, expressed pride in supporting the project and emphasized the collaborative efforts in advancing the energy transition.
East Anglia THREE is part of Masdar and Iberdrola's £15 billion strategic partnership and marks the first collaboration with ScottishPower in the UK. Nearly £2 billion has been invested in the UK supply chain, supporting 2,300 jobs during construction and creating around 100 long-term roles in the East of England. With a capacity of 1.4GW, the wind farm will provide clean power to over 1.3 million homes, enhancing the UK's energy security.