EDF Energy Renewables (EDF RE) has commenced construction work on the Blyth offshore wind demonstrator project in Northumberland, North East England.
The firm will initially install five MHI Vestas Offshore Wind-built V164-8.0 MW turbines with combined capacity of 41.5MW at the wind farm. This work is planned to be completed in 2017.
The project has permission to have maximum installed generating capacity of about 100MW.
VBMS has been selected to install 66Kv cable technology for the project, which will also feature foundations developed by Royal BAM Group.
EDF will use the Blyth site to install and test new turbine, foundation and cable technology in offshore conditions prior to using on a wider scale.
The project will be the first wind farm to use gravity base foundations.
The hybrid foundation is designed to be installed in deeper waters while eliminating noise from pile hammering during the installation. This is achieved by integrating steel reinforced concrete foundation with steel monopole.
MHI Vestas Offshore Wind CEO Jens Tommerup said: "Blyth will be the first offshore project which MHI Vestas and EDF Energy Renewables will install together, and we look forward to partnering on an innovative project where the latest technologies will be tested."
Power generated from the wind farm will be sold to the National Grid.
EDF Energy Renewables CEO said: "We are delighted that the gravity based foundations will be made in Newcastle.
"The Port of Blyth will be used for operations and maintenance and the blades for the turbines will be made on the Isle of Wight."
The Blyth site will also allow EDF ER to develop best practice supply chain processes for the installation, operation and maintenance of the wind farm.
Image: MHI Vestas Offshore Wind will build V164-8.0 MW turbines for Blyth offshore wind demonstrator project in UK. Photo: courtesy of MHI Vestas Offshore Wind A/S.