February 18 - The West of Duddon Sands Offshore Windfarm, a renewable energy project developed by ScottishPower Renewables and DONG Energy, has generated its first electricity for the United Kingdom's national grid.
The development is located 20 km off the Barrow-in-Furness coastline in the northwest of England. Engineers have successfully installed 42 of the 108 turbines that make up the 398 MW wind farm; four turbines have now been commissioned and are exporting electricity.
Pacific Orca, operated by Swire Pacific Offshore, along with A2SEA's Sea Installer have completed the offshore installation work. The purpose-built offshore windfarm installation vessels have worked in tandem to install the foundations and turbine components; the size and scale of the ships has driven efficiencies in the installation process, says DONG Energy.
"First power is a significant milestone West of Duddon Sands, especially given the challenging weather conditions we have seen in recent months, and it gives us confidence that we will be able to fully complete the project later this year," observed Keith Anderson, ceo of ScottishPower Renewables.
