East Anglia Three seeks to use bigger turbines, fewer substations

ScottishPower Renewables has applied for a non-material change to the East Anglia THREE Offshore Wind Farm Order 2017 which would allow the project to take advantage of advancing technologies and deliver a reduction in levelised energy costs.

The application, submitted by East Anglia Three Limited, seeks to reduce the number of offshore substations from six to one, and the number of wind turbines from up to 172 to up to 121.

If approved, the amendments would allow the developer to use wind turbines with a maximum tip height of 262 metres, and a maximum rotor diameter of 230 metres.

East Anglia Three covers an area of some 305 km2 and is located circa 69 kilometres from the coast of Suffolk.

Last summer, the UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) approved the increase in the project’s maximum generating capacity from 1,200 MW to 1,400 MW.

ScottishPower Renewables is developing the East Anglia Three wind farm in combination with the East Anglia One North and East Anglia Two projects.

The start of a four-year construction period on the 3.1 GW East Anglia Hub is scheduled for 2022.

The overall investment required will be in the region of £ 6.5 billion.

The developer has started building a supply chain for the Hub. Site investigation work is scheduled to start this month, marking the first deployment of personnel and contractors on the project.