ScottishPower Commences Offshore Construction for East Anglia THREE Windfarm

ScottishPower has officially kicked off its offshore construction program for the East Anglia THREE offshore windfarm, marking the beginning of its largest renewables project to date. With a staggering budget of USD$5.3 billion (£4 billion), this green energy initiative is set to make a significant impact on the renewable energy sector.

The installation of the first foundation for the project has already made waves, setting a new industry record in the offshore wind sector. Standing at an impressive 83.89 meters tall, 10.6 meters in diameter, and weighing a massive 1,800 tons, the monopile is the largest ever installed from a jack-up vessel in Europe.

Manufactured by the Joint Venture Navantia Seanergies Windar Renovables (JVNW), the monopile was successfully installed by the Seaway Ventus jack-up installation vessel, signaling the start of a groundbreaking construction phase for the East Anglia THREE windfarm.

This windfarm, boasting a capacity of 1.4GW, is a monumental project within the ScottishPower and Iberdrola portfolios. With a total of 95 monopiles to be installed, JVNW is responsible for fabricating 45 foundations, while the remaining 50 will be manufactured by Haizea.

Each monopile ranges between 67 and 85 meters in length, up to 10.6 meters in diameter, and weighs between 1200 and 1800 tons. These structures will serve as the base for 95 14.7MW Siemens Gamesa turbines, generating a combined total of 1400MW of clean energy—enough to power over 1.3 million homes.

In addition to the monopiles, transition pieces are also being installed, with the first of the 95 pieces produced by Windar Renovables already in place. These transition pieces measure 20 meters in height, 8 meters in diameter, and weigh over 400 tons each.

Seaway7 has taken charge of installing all the monopiles and transition pieces for the East Anglia THREE windfarm. The Seaway Ventus jack-up vessel has been equipped with a custom-built mission equipment spread, specifically designed and installed within a two-year timeframe to meet project requirements and deadlines.

The installation of all 95 turbines is set to be completed by early 2026, marking a significant milestone in the journey towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.