The largest wind turbines in the world have been switched on this week in Liverpool Bay, furthering the well-founded UK reputation as leaders in wind farming technology. Each of the 32 wind turbines stands an eye watering 190M tall. To give perspective that’s around twice the height of the statue of liberty with each turbine towering over the Gherkin at 180M. These monolithic structures each boasts 80M long blades (a football pitch is 90M long) capable of generating an astronomical 8 megawatts of power capable of meeting the electricity demand of well over 230,000 UK homes.
FIRST TIME EVER FOR 8MWH GENERATORS
This is the first time that 8 megawatt generators have been used commercially and the blades are the first locally built blades to be installed at a UK offshore wind farm. Each blade was designed, tested, and manufactured on the Isle of Wight and assembled at MHI Vestas’ facility in Belfast. Dutch based firm, Dong Energy, have boasted that a single revolution of each turbine’s massive blades are capable of powering the average UK household for well over 24 hours. The 32 stand as an extension to Dong’s existing, decade old wind farm “Burbo Bank”. The additional 32 turbines should be able to produce over twice as much power as the original farm.
BIGGER THE BETTER?
Dong Energy chose the UK to test their super-sized wind farms due to the UK’s generous regulations and subsidies to wind farming. Most companies in the market currently prefer to go with a higher quantity of smaller wind turbines as these are cheaper to build and maintain compared to their oversized brethren. However, with a snap election coming up, austerity measures on the horizon and a climate change denier in the White House, it is yet to be seen how these incredible structures will fair in the future. And whether we are likely to be seeing a shift away from traditional smaller wind turbines in favour of these vast wind driven powerhouses.
Kieron Blundell
Account Manager at maximeyes
Fuelling Change