British utility Scottish & Southern Energy Plc (SSE) (SSE.L) confirmed that it will build the world’s largest offshore wind farm in the waters off Britain’s east coast.
The company announced that it has purchased Texas-based engineer group Fluor’s (FLR.N) 50% stake in the 504-megawatt (MW) project for $77.8 million.
SSE also awarded Fluor and Germany’s Siemens AG (NYSE: SI) $3 billion in contracts to build the wind farm, according to a Reuter’s report.
Development of the Greater Gabbard wind farm to this stage has been carried out by Greater Gabbard Offshore Winds Ltd, a 50:50 joint venture between Airtricity, which is SSE’s renewable energy development division, and Fluor International Limited.
The site covers two offshore areas, Inner Gabbard and The Galloper, which are located approximately 25km off the Suffolk coast, in the outer Thames Estuary. 140 3.6 MW Siemens wind turbines will be mounted on steel monopiles and transition pieces, in water depths between 24 and 34 metres. Three 132kV sub-sea cables will bring the power ashore to a new substation to be built near Sizewell.
SSE said it intends to sell 50% of the project equity later this year.
The wind farm will be commissioned in two phases, with the entire construction scheduled to be completed in 2011.
Ian Marchant, Chief Executive of SSE, said, "Greater Gabbard is a landmark project for SSE and for the development of the UK’s offshore wind resource, and our priority now is to deliver it in an efficient, focused and timely manner. A major construction project of this kind, in potentially challenging conditions, is not without risks, but these have been managed through the procurement and project management strategies which we have adopted."
He added, "We are actively planning further offshore projects in the UK and throughout Europe, and the successful partnership approach that we have taken on Greater Gabbard will underpin our participation in the next round of offshore developments and beyond."
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