London Array is the World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm

October 31, 2012

Technology

View of a wind turbine. Image by London Array Limited

The London Array is the world’s largest offshore wind farm, and it’s currently under construction in the outer Thames Estuary in the UK. The goal of this platform is to create a 1,000 megawatt capacity.

It’s located 17.77 miles off the North Foreland on the Kent coast. It will cover 230 square kilometers. The first foundation was installed in March 2011 and phase I is expected to be completed at the end of 2012 at the cost of €2.2 billion. At that time, it will deliver a capacity of 630 MW.

A view of the wind farm. Image by London Array Limited

The first phase consisted of 175 turbines and two offshore substations, which are being erected on a monopile and will be connected by 210 km of array cables. These will be connected to a new onshore substation near Graveney.

A view of one of the substations. Image by London Array Limited

The first electricity generated by the wind farm has been delivered and 151 of the 175 turbines are now installed with construction expected to be completed on schedule. This wind farm will generate enough power to supply 470,000 UK homes with electricity. Phase II will add enough capacity to generate a total of 1,000 MW and this will be enough to power 750,000 UK homes.