Burbo Bank and Hornsea offshore wind projects advance

Liverpool Bay and Yorkshire projects both won electricity supply contracts last year

Two major offshore wind energy projects – both of which won electricity supply contracts from the government in April last year­– have each moved a step closer to construction.

First, DONG Energy has taken the decision to build the Burbo Bank Extension offshore wind farm, located 8 km offshore in Liverpool Bay. Burbo Bank Extension, which received development consent last September, will consist of 32 MHI Vestas Offshore Wind turbines, each rated at 8 MW, with a total capacity of 258 MW. The wind farm is expected to be commissioned in 2017.

Burbo Bank Extension is the first of three projects for which DONG Energy was awarded Contracts for Difference by the government last April. With the Contract for Difference, DONG Energy will receive a fixed price per MWh of electricity produced for the first 15 years of operation, following which the company will receive the market price.

MHI Vestas has confirmed that the turbine blades will be manufactured in the UK at its new Isle of Wight production facility. MHI Vestas CEO Jen Tommerup said: ‘MHI Vestas will become the first manufacturer with the capacity to serial produce blades for future offshore wind projects in the UK. Serial production of 80 m blades for the Burbo Bank Extension project will commence on the Isle of Wight from as early as Q2 2015.’

Second, the giant Hornsea Project One offshore wind project was given consent by the government to go ahead in December. Hornsea Project One will comprise three offshore wind farms with a maximum capacity of 1,200 MW. Once built, it will generate enough electricity to power more than 800,000 homes, says developer SMartWind, a joint venture between Mainstream Renewable Power, Siemens and DONG Energy.

Based 100 km off the coast of Yorkshire, the project was another of eight renewable energy projects awarded an early Contract for Difference last April 2014.

Consent was provided on the condition that the project has an employment and skills plan approved by North Lincolnshire Council, which includes local advertising of jobs and supply chain opportunities and outreach employment presentations.