The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Massive wind farm starting to take shape
The first turbine has been installed at the Seagreen wind farm, due to become Scotland’s largest, off the Angus coast.
The installation of the first turbine, 17 miles out, heralds the start of the next phase of the project.
In all, 114 turbines will make up the site.
This turbine is also the first V164-10.0 MW turbine installed anywhere, the world’s first commercial double-digit offshore wind turbine in terms of power.
The 1.1GW Seagreen offshore wind farm will be capable of generating around 5,000 GWH of renewable energy annually.
That is enough clean and sustainable electricity for more than 1.6 million UK homes.
It would also help to save around 1.6m tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
The £3bn wind farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables and Totalenergies.
SSE Renewables is leading the development and construction, supported by Totalenergies.
SSE Renewables will operate Seagreen for its expected 25-year lifetime.
Director of capital projects at SSE Renewables Paul Cooley said: “Seagreen is a project that’s always pushing boundaries.
“Installing the first turbine at any offshore project is a really important milestone.
“When that turbine is also the first of its type to be installed anywhere in the world, it makes it even more exciting.
“As Scotland’s offshore wind champion, I’m truly proud that SSE Renewables is breaking these boundaries on Seagreen.
“I’m looking forward to working across our teams to complete project delivery through 2022 ahead of entering commercial operation in 2023.”
The turbine installation programme is running in parallel with the foundation installation campaign run by Seaway7 out of Scotland’s Port of Nigg.
Project director John Hill said: “As key milestones go, the installation of the first turbine is one of the most exciting.
“It’s a fantastic achievement and a testament to the whole project team that we have reached this moment.
“We’re all looking forward to getting the remaining 113 turbines in.
“Once completed, Seagreen will make a significant contribution to our net-zero targets by powering the equivalent of two-thirds of Scotland’s homes.”
Earlier this year, Vestas announced that 87% of the V164 blades would be manufactured in the UK.
Of the 114 blade sets, 99 are being made at the firm’s Isle of Wight facility.
There is a £1.8m community fund to create a legacy for Angus.
A new long-term operational base is being built at Montrose Port using local contractors, while the project has also created jobs in the town.