Worlds Largest, $1.8 Billion, 500 MW, Wind Farm to be Built off the Coast of UK

Per Fluor Corporation press release:

Fluor Corporation, Dallas, TX, (NYSE: FLR) announced Wednesday that it has signed a contract with Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) to design and construct the 500 megawatt (MW) Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm. The venture is the world's largest offshore wind farm project to move into the construction phase and will be built approximately 25 kilometers off the Suffolk coast of the United Kingdom (UK). The new award will be booked in the company’s second quarter of 2008 and is worth approximately $1.8 billion (£900 million).  . . .

The first UK offshore wind farm to be built outside territorial waters, the project will feature 140 wind turbines each having a rated capacity of 3.6 MW. The turbines will be supplied by Siemens Wind Power A/S under a separate contract with SSE. Fluor will be responsible for the installation of the turbines which will be mounted on steel monopiles and transition pieces in water depths between 24 and 34 meters. A new electricity substation will be built near Sizewell, Suffolk, UK.

Construction work is scheduled to commence for the offshore site in summer 2009, with work to prepare the site for the onshore substation already underway. The wind farm will be commissioned in two phases, with the entire construction scheduled to be completed in 2011.  . . .

“The success of the Greater Gabbard Wind Farm will clearly establish Fluor as a leader in the rapidly growing market to develop and construct large-scale offshore wind farms,” said . “Wind farms represent just one aspect of Fluor’s strategy of applying our expertise and resources to assist clients in making meaningful reductions in carbon emissions and providing significant amounts of new, clean and renewable energy.”

Stephen Dobbs, senior group president of Fluor

This award of a project of this size and to a major engineering and construction company is a sign that wind power has reached maturity. A $1.8 billion project, without the turbines as I read it, is a major project by any standard.  The price seems high to me, but the energy is free. Offshore wind power is more expensive than land based wind power and this project is quite a ways off shore and in fairly deep water for wind power, which explains at least part of the high price. Still at half the size of a typical power plant, this is not that big a plant. 

Comments

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I'd build the world's largest wind farm in my city, except Florida doesn't really get as much wind as it does sunlight. Therefore, solar is the best bet in my neck of the woods.

[Rick L.]

I agree. From the south, it's all about the sunlight. Kudos. Great stuff. Thanks a bunch Rick L.

[Construction]

It was really heartening to know that Worlds Largest, $1.8 Billion, 500 MW; Wind Farm would be Built off the Coast of UK. It will be a real boost to provide an alternate source of energy...

[domestic wind turbine]

Tracy i think you just found the right place! I agree more countries need to do the same if we are going to lower CO2 emissions. I also think every little bit helps, including generating your own wind and solar power at home.

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[chester jacob]

Wind Turbines produce FREE power!

It is environmentally safe to use.

Basically, wind turbines are machines that rotate whenever the force of the wind blows by it. It transforms kinetic energy into mechanical energy. The latter is then converted into electricity. The power generated is dependent of the actual wind power. The stronger the wind, the more power is produced. The wind is a very good source of power as it is available all the time. It replenishes very quickly.

Most of the time, wind turbines have 3 blades placed on the top most portion of a tower. They are designed to be placed on top so as to get maximum wind power.

With the skyrocketing cost of electricity, it is but practical to utilize the power of the wind in the form of wind turbines. Producing your own electrical power at home is very convenient and environmentally safe. Just imagine the amount of money you can save if you have your own wind turbine.

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Construction work is scheduled to commence for the offshore site in summer 2009, I hope it will start on time,

[Electric treadmill]

Clee, I think you have generator size confused with plant size. Plants have multiple generators.

Just looking at coal, a coal fired generator operates at full nameplate capacity where the wind machines will get at best 30% to 40% of nameplate capacity. The energy produced by this "500MW" wind plant will be lucky to provide 15% of that produced by even a small coal plant.

[Galileo thermometers]

It was really heartening to know that Worlds Largest, $1.8 Billion, 500 MW; Wind Farm would be Built off the Coast of UK. It will be a real boost to provide an alternate source of energy...

[BPMN]

It is extremely expensive to maintain and to upgrade. Looks like a big looser financed by taxing people.............

[Energy writers]

There is still a lot of controversy surrounding the pros and cons of wind power and its local.

[Anbu]

It is one of the prestigious projects. Nice article.

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It is easy Bob. How much electricity is produced. Divide this number by the total amount of electricity is produced.

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This is the amazing and biggest farm made in the UK. Through the Energy Bill they are providing more financial support to offshore projects. The unbelievable thing will be construction of 140 turbines. I think this will be very useful facilities for UK people.

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Wonderful post about "Worlds Largest, $1.8 Billion, 500 MW, Wind Farm to be Built off the Coast of UK".

[EPC]

I live close to where this wind farm is to be constructed, and regularly sail off the coast here. In response to the earlier comment about being better to spread turbines out to better ensure some are in a windy area, I can assure you that 25km off the sussex coast it is nearly always windy. Being right bang in the center of the track of low pressure systems coming in from the atlantic, it is very rare to have more than 1 still day a month througout the year.

[home wind power]

It's good to know that they are planning to build a windfarm at the Coast of UK. Wind power are really useful. Aside from producing electricity, it's also part of the battle in reducing global warming!

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[Thom Johnson]

With the wind being predictably consistant off the cost of Sussex; has any one actually thought of doubling the amount of energy with hydro power? Wind that is that constant has to generate a steady current just below the surface. UK could be become the first country that runs entirely off of renewable energy.

[Kellyemmaleee]

I hope the construction of this project in United Kingdom will produce more energy to meet the rising demands.I suggest the author to visit the site http://investmentsinenergy.com , since this site has a great deal of info about the investments made in the renewable energy sector and many sensational news on energy.

[Kellyemmaleee]

I hope the construction of this project in United Kingdom will produce more energy to meet the rising demands.I suggest the author to visit the site http://investmentsinenergy.com , since this site has a great deal of info about the investments made in the renewable energy sector and many sensational news on energy.

[Georgia Drivers Ed]

Really good news for all of UK citizens, now we are moving more & more towards greener energy production units which can not only reduce green house gases also utilize the wind power which we ignore for lots of years.

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That's good, I like it.

[renewable energy sources]

In addition, they should encourage decentralised energy production, and use of perhaps roof integrated wind turbines, http://www.energy-measures.com/wind_turbines/

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Using free energy such as wind turbines is a neat idea although it is rather expensive to maintain which is one major downside in utilizing this type of energy. Using solar panels to tap solar energy is a way lot better since it requires little or no maintenance at all to use it.

[Hermes Bags]

The key of course is the the natural inverse proportion of nuclear to fossil. With wind and no nuclear, it means building into the system a set amount of fossil for spinning reserve. Thus the Germans plant to build 8 brand spanking new dirty coal plants to supplement wind energy. Well done. Of course they were going to build 23 (!!!!) plants but there was so much opposition they cut it down by 2/3s. Now they are projection a defecit in power, made up by...the always ready French nuclear grid. What can one conclude about this.Hermes Scarf

Well, Pickens knows the score...the profit margin he expects, to be pocketed by his company, equals the tax subsidies he'll get for buildng and running wind turbines. If the money is there, go for it.

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[Luigi]

nice +1 for natural energy sources, i heard that there is a technology that can store solar energy for 18 hours, imagine the difference it would make especially to countries with large deserts

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Wow that is a lot of money, but if it works it'll be worth it in the long run!

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Interesting it'll be off the UK coast, is there a lot of wind in that region?

[Dentist Los Angeles]

So expensive and half the size of a power plant? Fascinating...

[Therapist New York]

For that much money I'm sure the plant is still there, wonder how it's doing, though

[towel warmer]

This is only good for the people of the united Kingdom, not us here in the U.S. This plant would have saved a lot of jobs in this current dire economic situation.

[beverage consultants]

Wow, $1.8 Bil? Are they making their money back by now?

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What's up with this wind farm?

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