The Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore windfarm, which is under construction 15 km off the coast of Scotland, has achieved a major milestone with the first of two offshore substations having been installed
The milestone means NnG can be connected to the grid ahead of the project’s 54 wind turbines being installed in 2023.
Saipem used the installation vesselSleipnirto install the 1,100-tonne topside onto one of the two foundation jackets for the windfarm.
The innovative ‘rock socket’ seabed supports for the jackets were prepared last year by construction vessels Saipem 7000andSaipem 3000in a water depth of approximately 50 m.
Power generated by the offshore windfarm will be exported via NnG’s two substations to an onshore substation, where the energy will access the grid.
The first turbines will be operational in mid-2023, with completion of the entire windfarm scheduled for 2024. NnG, jointly owned by EDF Renewables and ESB, will have a capacity of 450 MW.
