Seagreen is the largest offshore wind farm in Scotland and a pivotal contributor to wind energy in the UK. It is under development in the firth of the North Sea’s fourth development zone. When complete, this wind farm will generate the most wind energy compared to any renewable energy project in Scotland.
Seagreen will also be the world’s deepest wind farm when SSE renewables complete it in 2023. The project is significant as it is the keystone offshore wind farm to help Scotland achieve its Net Zero goals.
SSE Renewables are leading the £3bn wind farm in a joint venture project supported by TotalEnergies.
Where is the Seagreen wind farm?
The project is 27 km off the Angus Shore of Scotland and located in the firth of the North Sea’s fourth development zone.
Who owns the Seagreen offshore wind farm?
Seagreen Wind Energy Limited (SWEL) is an SSE Renewables subsidiary and operates Seagreen. The company owns 49% of the Seagreen project and will operate after commissioning for its expected lifespan of 25 years.
Total Energies entered into a joint venture with SSE Renewables by buying 51% of the project in 2020.
The Crown Estate commission awarded the exclusive development rights of North Sea’s forth development zone to SSE in 2010.
How large is the Seagreen wind farm project?
The Seagreen project will enter commercial operation by 2023 and deliver enough green energy to 1.6 million homes, or two-thirds of households in Scotland.
The low carbon project will also prevent millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere. The renewable energy project can eliminate the equivalent of more than a third of Scotland’s annual car emissions by delivering clean energy.
When is the first power of the Seagreen wind farm project?
The project will provide its first power by Q3 of 2022, with an entirely commercial operation later.
Is it a fixed or floating foundation?
The project not only uses fixed foundation turbines but is also the deepest offshore project in the world!
How much total energy will this produce?
The wind farm’s turbines can generate 5 terawatt-hours of energy annually.
The total installed capacity of 1.1 GW significantly contributes to Scotland’s net-zero ambition. It is the largest offshore wind farm in Scotland, powering two-thirds of the households in the region.
How many MW per phase?
Seagreen 1 and Seagreen 1A consist of the new phasing of the project. Initially, the project had two equal 525 MW phases with 75 turbines each. The initial two phases were called Seagreen Alpha and Seagreen Bravo.
In 2018, SWEL removed the 525 MW limit per phase requirement, and Seagreen officially expanded to 1.1 GW capacity under one project called Seagreen 1. This project proceeded with 114 turbines, each with a 10 MW capacity.
SSE Renewables proposed a new layout that the Crown Estate approved, where the remaining 36 out of the 150 consented turbines can connect to a separate substation in the national grid.
How many turbines?
Seagreen offshore wind farm received development consent from the UK government for 150 offshore wind turbines. 114 are currently installed, while the remaining 36 are yet to be constructed.
As of April 2022, 21 Vestas turbines have been installed. The installations began in December of 2021.
Because 150 turbines have consented, the project will push through with a potential 1.4 GW capacity once requests for variation of turbine parameters are approved.
The proposal submitted by SWEL in January 2022 concerns the remaining 36 turbines. This proposal is awaiting approval from Marine Scotland for more giant turbines and height increases, affecting the number of birds that may collide with the turbines.
SWEL requested a screening opinion to maximize the power generated by the project. Approval will quickly allow the construction of turbines with larger rotors, larger hubs, and more giant blades for the remaining 36 turbines.
SWEL also proposes Marine Scotland in January 2022 exempts the variation from EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment).
Who makes the turbines?
Vestas Offshore Wind will manufacture offshore wind turbines. Danish company Vestas Wind Systems A/S (50%) and Japanese Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (50%) are the two owners of the joint venture.
Vestas has installed 1,500 turbines in 45 projects for more than 7 GW capacity. The first offshore turbines at Tunø Knob Offshore Wind Farm in 1995 were manufactured and installed by the company, which are still in operation today.
For some perspective, Tunø Knob turbines were only 500 KW at 3 to 6 meters deep.
What is the turbine model?
114 V164-10 MW turbines from MHI Vestas will power the Seagreen offshore wind farm.
The remaining 36 turbines await approval from Marine Scotland regarding the increase in the height of the turbines. The authorization will expand the MW size and capacity of the project.
How much MW per turbine?
Seagreen has 10 MW capacity wind turbines.
What is the economic impact of the project?
As Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm project, it is delivering significant economic benefits to the people of Scotland. Seagreen will give permanent employment to 93 workers on-site and 48 roles at the port, giving the UK government a high-value green jobs boost.
The Operations and Maintenance office of SSE at Montrose Port will keep a workforce of 120 personnel, including 60 staff from Vestas, for servicing and maintenance of the turbines.
Expansion plans
Seagreen 1A is the infrastructure project associated with the remaining 36 turbines awaiting construction and installation.
The project is supported by TotalEnergies, as indicated in their press release’s 360 MW expansion note.
Seagreen 1A has already obtained the support of the national grid to connect the 36 turbines to a Cockenzie Substation, permission for onshore works, and the Marine License to proceed with the offshore elements relating to Cockenzie.
When Marine Scotland approves variation, the project will proceed and push the electricity generated by the project to 1.4 GW at completion.