NEART na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm has achieved a major milestone as the first of its two offshore electricity substations was installed.
The offshore wind farm, under construction 5km off the Fife coast, will be fully connected to the National Grid as a result of the project.
NnG’s contractor, Saipem, used the world’s largest offshore wind installation vessel, the Heerema Sleipnir, to anchor the 1100 tonne substation on the seabed 50 meters below the surface.
The power generated by the offshore wind farm’s turbines will be exported to NnG’s onshore substation where the energy will access the National Grid’s entry point at Crystal Rig in the Lammermuir Hills, East Lothian.
The first turbines will be operational in mid-2023, with completion of the entire wind farm scheduled for 2024.
NnG project director Matthias Haag said: “Having the first of NnG’s two offshore substations in place is a really important moment for everyone involved in the construction of this major offshore development for Scotland.
“A lot of hard work has gone in to preparing the seabed to help us reach this milestone and I’m pleased that we can continue connecting the platform to the grid and undertaking further foundation works.
“It’s an exciting time for NnG as construction continues both offshore and onshore and we are on track for our first turbines to be operational in mid-2023, with completion of the entire wind farm scheduled for 2024.”
NnG, jointly owned by EDF Renewables and ESB, will have a capacity of 450MW, supplying, on average, enough low carbon electricity for around 375,000 homes while offsetting over 400,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
The innovative “rock socket” seabed supports for the jackets were prepared last year by the Saipem 7000 and Saipem 3000 construction vessels in a water depth of approximately 50 metres, to anchor the offshore substation to the seabed.
The power generated by the offshore wind farm’s turbines will be exported via NnG’s two offshore substations to its onshore substation.
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