Electricity has been generated for the first time at DONG Energy’s Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm, located off the North Norfolk, U.K., coast.
With the initial turbines installed, power from the first turbine is now being exported to the national grid, says DONG Energy.
Race Bank comprises 91 Siemens 6 MW turbines, including the first-ever wind turbine blades manufactured at the Siemens blade factory in Hull. Those are expected to be installed later in the year. In total, approximately two-thirds (around 180) of the blades at Race Bank will come from the Siemens facility in Hull.
“I’m delighted we’ve reached first power at Race Bank – which is an important milestone that proves every part of the transmission and generation equipment at the wind farm is successfully working,” comments Klaus Skoust Møller, Race Bank program director at DONG Energy.
Once all 91 turbines are installed, Race Bank will be capable of generating 573 MW of electricity – enough capacity to meet the annual electricity demands of over half a million U.K. homes, says DONG Energy.
Construction of the project is being managed from DONG Energy’s construction base in the Grimsby Fish Docks. Last year, DONG Energy announced plans for a multimillion-dollar investment in Grimsby to create the U.K.’s largest offshore wind operations and maintenance hub, which will serve Race Bank once it becomes operational, the developer says.
