Vattenfall’s Ray Wind Farm produces power for the first time

Vattenfall, the Hexham based energy company, announced today that the 16 turbine Ray Wind Farm has started to generate green electricity for the first time, helping to reduce emissions and combat climate change.

Construction of Ray Wind Farm on the Ray Estate, near Kirkwhelpington, started summer 2015, and just over 18 months later turbine A01 was the first to export green power to the National Grid. In an average year, Ray will prevent around 62,000 tonnes of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere, equivalent to taking around 17,000 cars off the road.

Paul Nickless, Vattenfall’s Construction Manager for the Ray Wind Farm Project, said: “I am pleased that we have begun to produce clean, green electricity at Ray.  This  is Vattenfall’s seventh operational onshore project in the UK.  We are delighted to contribute to the UK’s future low carbon energy mix.

“Moving forward, Vattenfall and turbine supplier Senvion will be testing and commissioning the remaining 15 turbines to enable the wind farm to be fully operational by the end of March.”

When fully commissioned, Ray Wind Farm will produce enough power every year to meet the equivalent electricity needs of around 30,000 UK households.