The Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm, located 15.5km off the coast of Fife, Scotland, has started feeding electricity into the National Grid.
This success is an important milestone in the development of this project which will contribute to achieving the carbon neutrality objectives of Scotland and the UK.
With an installed capacity of 450 MW, the 54 wind turbines in the park will produce the equivalent of the annual electricity consumption of around 375,000 homes.[1]The NnG offshore wind farm, owned by EDF Renewables and ESB, will prevent the emission of 400,0001 tons of CO2 per year.
Full commissioning of NnG is planned for summer 2025. Over the coming months, the 54 wind turbines will be gradually started up.
Matthias Haag, Project Director said: “This is a significant milestone for the project and another step towards achieving the country’s carbon neutrality goal. We have worked closely with local authorities and are grateful for their loyalty. We are now opening a new chapter in the NnG project’s history with the work to complete the park.”
Ryanne Burges, Director of Offshore Wind and Ireland for EDF Renewables said : " We are proud to celebrate this important milestone for NnG and look forward to even more low-carbon electricity being injected into the grid in the coming months. NnG is a key project in EDF Renewables UK and Ireland’s portfolio to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral future. The project will continue to deliver significant benefits to local communities on the East Coast of Scotland through support for local initiatives and projects, suppliers and local jobs for local people. »
Paul Lennon, Director of Offshore Wind and Hydrogen for ESB added: " NnG is an important project for ESB and we welcome the start of the much anticipated electricity injection into the grid. We look forward to seeing the offshore wind farm in full operation next year. This project will help reduce CO2 emissions from the UK’s electricity generation sector, play a significant role in the economy of the East Coast of Scotland and will ultimately support ESB’s carbon neutrality ambition. »
The project has benefited local suppliers and Scotland more widely by providing work for local businesses, including Forth Ports at the Port of Dundee, I&H Brown, Briggs Marine and Muir Construction Ltd.
Currently, 27 people are working at the operations and maintenance base at Eyemouth Harbour to commission the wind farm. The base will eventually accommodate around 50 skilled jobs to operate and maintain the farm for 25 years.
[1] Figures based on an average UK household electricity consumption of 3.889 kWh (2017 figure) and an average UK offshore wind load factor of 37.2%.