UK's largest offshore wind farm set to be switched on

In less than a year engineers have battled the elements to build Britain's biggest offshore windfarm 3km off the Yarmouth coast. And, in days now, the massive turbines on Scroby Sands will start harnessing the power of the wind as they begin generating electricity for the first time. The news of the switch-on comes as Energy Minister Stephen Timms said Britain must spend £1 billion a year on renewable energy. He said in a weekend interview that a massive programme of investment was needed to protect the environment and make sure Britain was energy self-sufficient.

Mr Timms said: “We need to be building up to around £1 billion a year investment in renewable energy over an extended period. “That is rather less than has been achieved in some countries but that is what we need to do if we are going to secure the environmental benefits, begin to address climate change seriously, as well as make sure we do have the UK-controlled sources of electricity we need for the future.” Mr Timms insisted people became “very attached” to turbines once they were put up.

Andy Hilton, project manager for the Scroby Sands windfarm, said last-minute checks were being carried out on the turbines before the first group of ten were turned on by the end of the month. Engineers were carrying out further tests on the 100m high structures to make sure they are ready for full commercial operation by the end of August. “We are still doing lots of testing work but hopefully we should have the first ten powered up by the end of the month,” he said. “Once they are up and running the second and third groups should follow relatively quickly.” When the 30 turbines are all turned on they will power 41,000 homes and save 75,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.