Swindon — The Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm celebrated its 10-year anniversary of generating clean energy on Sept. 7.
All 140 turbines of the joint venture (JV) between RWE Renewables (50%) and SSE Renewables (50%) have been operational since September 2012, and they generated enough renewable energy in the last 10 years to power the equivalent of more than 400,000 UK homes each year.
Located in the North Sea, around 20 km off the coast of Suffolk, the 504-MW Greater Gabbard has produced more than 17,487 GWh so far, which has helped significantly reduce CO2 emissions and contribute to the UK government’s net-zero ambitions.
This follows a recent announcement that RWE Renewables was successful in winning the wind turbine service and maintenance agreement. The 10-year agreement will commence in early 2023, taking the project through to planned end of life, while SSE Renewables will continue to operate the site.
Glynn Fereday, operations manager for Greater Gabbard, said, “The wind farm not only continues to play a crucial role in achieving net-zero targets, but it has provided jobs in the local area since coming into operation 10 years ago. Since 2015, we have recruited eight pipeline trainees to the Greater Gabbard Operations and Maintenance Team. Future plans include delivery of a five-year pipeline trainee plan, which will grow our pipeline trainee numbers at the Lowestoft base.”
The next phase to this wind farm is the Greater Gabbard Extension project, known as North Falls Offshore Wind Farm. The project is being developed by North Falls Offshore Wind Farm Ltd., a JV owned equally by RWE and SSE Renewables, the extension has been awarded an agreement for lease for up to 504 MW from The Crown Estate.
North Falls has the potential to build on Greater Gabbard’s already successful legacy in the East of England, RWE said. Consultation prior to commencing Preliminary Environmental Information Report will be carried out in Autumn 2022.
09.07.2022
