A Northumberland wind farm which was created using a number of world-leading innovations is set for expansion.
Five turbines have formed the Blyth Offshore Demonstrator wind farm since 2017, when the first phase of the renewables project was completed.
Now its owners, French firm EDF Renewables, plans to build phase two of the wind farm off the coast of the Northumberland town, using floating offshore wind technology in one of the first projects of its kind in English waters.
The existing wind farm has a generating capacity of 41.5MW and was the first 海角视频 offshore wind farm to use float and submerge gravity base foundations.
EDF Renewables is now planning for phase two which will see the installation of five more turbines, set 14km from the shore in water depths of around 55 metres.
The capacity for phase two has yet to be finalised but the current consent for Blyth Offshore Demonstrator wind farm is for a maximum of 99.9 MW, leaving a remaining capacity of 58.4MW.
The turbines to be installed in phase two will be constructed on floating sub structures.
Key contractors have yet to be picked, including the turbine supplier, but a range of floating technology options are being considered, with the final design still to be determined by further detailed engineering studies.
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A key requirement of the project is to demonstrate new and innovative technologies that have potential to reduce the cost of offshore wind, both floating and fixed, developments in the future.
EDF Renewables is working closely with suppliers and research organisations, including the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, which has a base in Blyth, to ensure technologies and approaches are fully explored.
Director of Offshore wind at EDF Renewables, Michele Schiavone, said: “We are very excited about this next phase of the BOD project and want to further the demonstration of construction and operation of floating turbines to show that floating wind is technically feasible and cost competitive in water depths of 50-60 metres.
“With the Contract for Difference (CfD) mechanism providing a potential route to market, we are confident that floating turbine technology can accelerate the 海角视频’s journey to a net zero future where clean energy powers all our lives. We will use the project to support the further development of this emerging technology.
“We are ambitious when it comes to offshore wind and already have two operational offshore wind sites at Blyth and Teesside. We are currently working on our 450 MW Neart na Gaoithe project in the Firth of Forth in Scotland (a joint venture with ESB) and our Irish Codling project (a joint venture with Fred.Olsen Renewables) which will have a capacity of up to 1.5GW.”
The development timescale for Blyth Offshore Demonstrator phase two has not yet been finalised but the target is for it to be fully commissioned by Spring 2025.
The project has been welcomed by Port of Blyth.
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Chief executive Martin Lawlor said: “We’re delighted that EDF Renewables have announced they are to make this exciting proposal a reality.
"Blyth is synonymous with offshore wind innovation as a home to the first turbines installed and decommissioned in 海角视频 waters and of course as the location for the world leading test facilities of the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult. As the host for the wind farm’s O&M base we look forward to supporting EDF Renewables and its partners throughout the construction phase and into operations.”