ScottishPower’s Enormous Foundations for East Anglia Wind

A new offshore wind industry record has been set by East Anglia THREE, ScottishPower Renewables’ wind farm off the coast of Norfolk, UK. 

The company has successfully installed the first pair of monopile foundations, becoming the largest installed to date from a jack-up vessel in Europe with 93 more on the way over the next year. 

Each of these foundations will hold a 14.7 MW Siemens Gamesa turbine, the largest used across the ScottishPower and Iberdrola portfolios. 

When completed, the US$5.3bn wind farm is expected to power more than 1.3 million homes. 

Charlie Jordan, CEO at ScottishPower Renewables, said: “The installation of our first East Anglia THREE foundation is a real wow moment for both ScottishPower and Iberdrola. 

“It represents a mammoth feat of engineering, skill and a huge amount of work. We’re talking an incredible 1800 tonnes of steel, safely and securely lifted and then precisely placed in the exact spot in an area the size of almost 43,000 football pitches. 

“We’ve never built anything of this scale before!”

How big is East Anglia THREE?

The first monopile installed is 83.89 metres tall, 10.6 metres in diameter and weighs 1,800 tonnes. 

ScottishPower Renewables says this is the height of approximately 15 giraffes, a diameter the same as the length of a London bus and roughly the weight of 250 African elephants. 

Charlie said: “East Anglia THREE will be the biggest-ever windfarm across the whole of the Iberdrola group and the second largest in the world when it comes into operation. 

“To visibly see it starting to take shape in the North Sea is a real milestone moment and definitely something to be proud of. 

“This project is a fantastic example of how we’re generating more secure, green electricity for the UK, investing in the country’s clean energy future and supporting jobs and opportunities for decades to come.” 

The first of the transition pieces has also been installed, with each 20 metres in height, eight metres in diameter and weighing more than 400 tonnes.

In combination with the monopile foundation, the weight of this is equal to that of more than 300 African elephants. 

Meet the companies making East Anglia THREE

ScottishPower Renewables is part of the ScottishPower group of companies operating in the UK under the Iberdrola Group, a world leader in wind energy.

Alongside East Anglia THREE, the company is working on East Anglia ONE, East Anglia ONE North and East Anglia TWO. 

These four offshore wind farms will deliver a combined capacity of more than 3.9 GW of energy. 

Joint Venture Navantia Seanergies Windar Renovables (JVNW) manufactured these first two monopiles and is delivering 43 more. 

The remaining 50 monopiles are being manufactured by Haizea. 

Windar Renovables is producing 95 transition pieces to go with these, the first of which has been installed. 

All of these are being installed by Seaway7 with a custom-built mission equipment spread on the Seaway Ventus jack-up vessel. 

Lloyd Duthie, Vice President UK, Ireland & Asia at Seaway7, said, “We are proud to have successfully installed the first foundation for East Anglia Three. 

“This achievement comes after two years of preparation, resulting in Seaway Ventus installing the largest monopile from a jack-up vessel in Europe. 

“It really is testament to the scale of engineering that can be achieved together with partners across the supply chain. 

“We look forward to progressing this significant multi-year construction project, encompassing foundation and inner-array cable installation, with ScottishPower Renewables to deliver a substantial contribution to the UK's renewable energy ambitions.”

These foundations will support turbines from Siemens Gamesa with 108 metre-long blades.

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