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, May 26.
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 164-metre 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 facility 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.”
He said: “One of our 1,800-tonne suction bucket jacket foundation was
installed in what we believe is a world record of two hours and 40 minutes
from the time the installation vessel entered the offshore site until
deployment was complete.
“What makes this even more significant is that the EOWDC is the first
offshore wind project to deploy this kind of foundation at commercial scale
while it’s also the first to pair them with the world’s most powerful
turbines. “
The final turbine was installed just nine weeks after the first of the
foundations were completed.
Mr Ezzammel said: “Full credit goes to the expertise of our project team
and contractors who have worked collaboratively and vigorously to achieve
this remarkable milestone in such a short timescale.
“As a flagship project for the North-east, the EOWDC helps underline the
region’s status as Europe’s energy capital and reinforces Vattenfall’s
vision to be fossil-free within one generation.”
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