Offshore wind projects are beginning to emerge with increasing frequency as technology is beginning to find ways to overcome the problems and costs. Only recently we heard that the London Array Project was setback by the withdrawal of Shell WindEnergy, but there was some good news about another offshore wind power project today. 

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) have confirmed that they plan to go ahead with their proposed $3 billion offshore wind project which has been named Greater Gabbard. Contracts to supply materials and construction have been awarded to US engineer Fluor Corporation and wind turbine supplier Siemens for the project.

A joint venture partnership known as Greater Gabbard Offshore Winds Limited had previously been established between Airtricity (the renewables arm of Scottish and Southern Energy) and Fluor. S&SE have announced that the 50% share in the project held by Fluor has also been bought out making this a 100% SSE project.

Greater Gabbard will consist of 140 wind turbines each with a capacity of 3.6MW which will give the entire project a maximum capacity of 504MW. The project is going to be located approximately 23 km off shore next to two sand banks known as Inner Gabbard and The Galloper in the North Sea off the Suffolk coast.

Onshore construction is expected to begin in July and the offshore construction will start mid 2009. The project is expected to be in commercial production in 2011. It will have the capacity to produce enough electricity to power 415,000 homes every year. The company also estimates that the power generated from renewable energy sources will avoid up to 1,000,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

The underwater cables that will bring the electricity to shore will make landfall at Sizewell near Leiston in Suffolk. Underground cables will then connect to a new sub-station which will then be connected to the existing electricity transmission system via overhead cables.

The UK Government has set renewable energy targets of generating 10% of the country’s energy needs from renewable sources by 2010, rising to 20% by 2020 and to 60% by 2050. The commissioning of the Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm will contribute 5% of the 2010 target alone.

More details concerning the Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm including envirnomental issues, maps of the proposed site, and latest news related to the project can be found by visiting the Greater Gabbard Offshore Winds Limited website.