August 20, 2006
U.K.
U.K.
The first of two of the world’s biggest offshore wind turbines is expected to leave a former Highlands oil fabrication yard on Sunday.
The tower and its components will be floated from Nigg, Invergordon, to the Beatrice Field in the Moray Firth.
A Scottish-based consortium led by oil firm Talisman and Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) will test the deepwater turbines in a £35m pilot.
If successful, a full 200-turbine wind farm will be built 12 miles offshore.
The turbines will be tested in depths of about 45m, with the hubs rising to 88m above sea level. The blades will be 63m long.
It is hoped the site will be capable of generating one Gigawatt of electricity, enough renewable energy to power the city of Aberdeen.
European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs inspected the turbines at Nigg in July.
Government funding was secured two years ago, with £3m from the Scottish Executive and £3m from the Department of Trade and Industry.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/08/20/wind-turbine-ready-for-sea-trip/