Wind farm

The company took four 60m, 650-tonne monopiles and transition pieces from its facility on the River Tees by barge to meet the MPI Discovery jack-up vessel.

Located 8km off the Yorkshire Coast, the project will feature a 73-turbine array, which will generate enough electricity for about 170,000 homes in the UK.

E.ON awarded a contract to TAG Energy in February 2013 to manufacture 16 monopiles and transition pieces for the £736m Humber Gateway wind farm.

TAG Energy Solutions chief executive Stuart Oakley said: "We are very pleased to see the first four foundations make their way from Teesside to the Humber Gateway wind farm.

"This is a landmark project, which has utilised a strong blend of new technology and an experienced and highly-skilled workforce, highlighting the capabilities of TAG Energy Solutions and the wider UK offshore wind supply chain."

The project includes the connection of the offshore wind farm into the National Grid onshore.

The offshore cables will bring ashore the energy, adjoining the onshore cables that will run underground for about 30km from Easington to Salt End.

Two substations will be required to step up the voltage of the electricity that is generated by the wind farm to connect into the National Grid.

Construction on the project is expected to be completed in 2015.


Image: TAG Energy took four monopiles and transition pieces from its facility on the River Tees by barge to meet the MPI Discovery jack-up vessel. Photo: Courtesy of TAG Energy Solutions.