Wind farm opposed by Donald Trump gets final turbine

A green energy project, which faced legal challenges from Donald Trump, using the world’s most powerful wind turbines has passed a milestone with the installation of the final device.

Bosses at Vattenfall confirmed the last of the 11 turbines at its European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) off Aberdeen was put in place on Saturday.

The turbines installed there include the most powerful in the world, while it is also the first commercial project to use a new style of foundations, each of which weigh almost as much as 10 Boeing 747 aircraft.

Meanwhile, the giant turbines are 191 metres tall, with each blade being 80 metres long, while the 164metre rotor has a circumference larger than that of the London Eye.

The Aberdeen Bay development will be Scotland’s largest offshore wind test and demonstration area and will trial next-generation technology.

But it has been hit by delays, including legal challenges from Donald Trump who claimed the turbines would ruin the views from his golf course at Balmedie.

It is now scheduled to start generating power this summer, and should produce the equivalent of more than 70% of Aberdeen’s domestic electricity demand.

Speaking after the final turbine was installed, Adam Ezzamel, EOWDC project director at Vattenfall, said: “This is a magnificent offshore engineering feat for a project that involves industry-first technology and innovative approaches to the design and construction.

“Throughout construction, the project team and our contractors have encountered, tackled and resolved a number of challenges.

“The erection of the final turbine is a significant milestone, and with the completion of array cable installation just a few days away, we now move on to the final commissioning phase of the wind farm prior to first power later this summer.”