ScottishPower Renewables and Orsted are celebrating a decade of success in offshore wind energy as the West of Duddon Sands wind farm marks its tenth year of operation. Located in the Irish Sea, approximately 14 km off the Cumbrian coastline, this 389 MW wind farm features 108 Siemens 3.6 MW turbines and has been a significant contributor to the UK’s renewable energy landscape since its commissioning in 2014.
Significant Contributions
Over the past ten years, West of Duddon Sands has generated enough renewable energy to power around 340,000 homes annually, equivalent to the population of Leeds. The project involved an investment of over £1 billion and supported more than 1,000 jobs at its peak construction, with around 40 long-term skilled jobs now established at its operations and maintenance base in Barrow-in-Furness.
Additionally, the wind farm has contributed to substantial investments and job creation at Belfast Harbour, the first purpose-built offshore wind installation and pre-assembly harbor in the UK and Ireland.
Paving the Way for Future Projects
As ScottishPower’s first offshore wind farm, West of Duddon Sands has been instrumental in the company’s evolution into a major player in the UK’s offshore wind market, boasting an operational portfolio of over 1 GW and a pipeline exceeding 10 GW. Charlie Jordan, CEO of ScottishPower Renewables, who oversaw its development, remarked, “West of Duddon Sands was quite literally our first toe in the waters of offshore wind.”
He added, “It’s no coincidence that only two years after we opened our first offshore wind farm, ScottishPower closed its coal-fired power stations and became the first major UK energy company to generate 100% green energy.”
Technological Advancements
West of Duddon Sands also represents a milestone in offshore wind construction technology. At the time of its construction, the project utilized two of the world’s largest and most advanced vessels to install its foundations and turbines, allowing operations to continue during one of the harshest winters on record.
Emma Ford, Head of West Coast Generation at Orsted, highlighted the significance of the wind farm: “Wind farms like West of Duddon Sands continue to make a significant contribution to the nation’s supply of renewable energy and have played an important role in the shift away from fossil fuels to clean energy.”
Conclusion
As it celebrates its tenth anniversary, the West of Duddon Sands wind farm stands as a testament to the advancements in offshore wind technology and the commitment to renewable energy in the UK. Both ScottishPower and Orsted reflect on how early projects have paved the way for the next generation of offshore wind farms, contributing to the transition towards sustainable energy sources.
