Electricity has been generated for the first time at Burbo Bank Extension Offshore windfarm.
The joint venture is between Dong Energy and its partners PKA and Kirkbi.
It comes after the initial installation of turbines, with power now being exported to the national grid.
This is the first time the next generation MHI Vestas 8MW turbines have been used commercially offshore.
Claus Bøjle Møller, Burbo Bank Extension programme director, said: “First power is a key milestone for us because it proves that every part of the transmission and generation equipment is successfully working. We’re progressing well with the construction of the wind farm thanks to a huge effort from our construction team and our contractors.
“This milestone is also significant for the offshore wind industry at a broader scale. Using these bigger turbines is a major step in reducing the cost of energy from offshore wind and we are proud to once again introduce a step-change in technology.”
Over the coming weeks, the first turbines will be generating more and more environmentally friendly electricity into the UK grid.
Once all 32 turbines are in place, which is expected in the first quarter of next year. the windfarm will be capable of generating up to 258 megawatts (MW) of electricity – enough to meet the annual electricity demands of around 230,000 UK homes.
Construction of Burbo Bank Extension, located 7km off Liverpool Bay, is being managed from DONG Energy’s facilities at Cammell Laird Shipyard site in Birkenhead by a team of around 90 people.
Work is also underway on a multi-million pound state of the art operations and maintenance facility in King’s Wharf, Seacombe to serve the two DONG Energy windfarms in the area. Up to 75 jobs are being created during construction and around 45 people will be employed at the site when it is operational, in the second half of next year.
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