Final turbine installed at Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm

Race Bank is located off the North Norfolk coast and is using Siemens 6 megawatt (MW) wind turbines. Many of these turbines feature the first blades to be manufactured at the Siemens blade factory in Hull.

The installation of the final turbine means the project remains on schedule, with the wind farm expected to be fully operational in early 2018.

Important milestone to reach

David Summers, our Project Director for Race Bank, said: “I’m delighted that all 91 turbines have been successfully installed at Race Bank. This has been one of the more difficult projects to execute with challenging seabed conditions and a complex export cable route. Construction has progressed well and we’re right on schedule – this is an important milestone to reach.

“I’d like to thank the team here at Ørsted who have worked with great passion and commitment to achieve this. I would also like to thank our suppliers and contractors who have collaborated with us on this project as they are a big part of the success story. We’re now looking forward to completing construction and seeing a fully operational wind farm next year that will be capable of powering over half a million UK homes.”

Initial batch of turbine blades delivered from the Hull factory

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy’s UK Managing Director, Clark MacFarlane, said: “Installation of the final turbine on any project is always a cause for celebration, but especially so for the completion of the Race Bank project. We will always associate Race Bank with the initial batch of turbine blades delivered from our Hull factory, a turning point in the UK renewable energy industry.”

About Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm:

• Owned by Ørsted (50%), Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 5 (25%), Macquarie Capital (12.5%) and Sumitomo Corporation (12.5%)
• Located approximately 16.8 miles off Blakeney Point on the North Norfolk coast and 17.4 miles off the Lincolnshire coast at Chapel St Leonards
• Covers a total area of 75km2
• Consists of 91 Siemens 6 megawatt (MW) turbines
• Total capacity of 573MW, producing enough electricity to power over half a million UK homes annually