MADRID, 29 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) -
Siemens Gamesa has signed a firm order with ScottishPower Renewables to supply 95 units of its most powerful turbine to the second largest offshore farm in the world, the 'East Anglia 3' wind farm, located in the North Sea and with a capacity total of 1.4 gigawatts (GW).
As reported by the company on Wednesday, the operation also includes a maintenance contract for an initial period of eight years.
The group has highlighted that this agreement represents an important step in the path of decarbonisation of the energy system that the United Kingdom has begun, as well as the first installation of its most powerful turbine in the country.
'East Anglia 3' is the second of the four projects planned within the framework of the East Anglia hub, which will have a total of 2.9 GW of capacity and which ScottishPower Renewables plans to develop on the east coast of England.
Specifically, 'East Anglia 3' will have an approximate area of 305 square kilometers and, at its closest point to the coast, it will be 69 kilometers from Norfolk. Once completed, the project will supply clean energy to 1.3 million homes in the UK.
Siemens Gamesa has specified that the installation is expected to begin in the spring of 2026 and finish towards the end of the same year.
For the CEO of Siemens Gamesa's offshore business, Marc Becker, "East Anglia 3 is essential for the success of energy decarbonisation in the United Kingdom, as well as for its energy independence".
"In addition, it marks the first project of our innovative SG 14-236 DD offshore turbine in British waters. At a difficult time, it is encouraging to be able to sign this order with ScottishPower Renewables. However, we need the UK Government to ensure that renewable energy, wind power, especially, is at the same level of importance as oil and gas," he added.
Siemens Gamesa has stressed that the current macroeconomic context is being "extremely complicated" for wind turbine manufacturers. "This firm request has only been possible thanks to the collaboration between all the parties involved," she pointed out.
The company has urged the British Government to support the renewable energy sector, since "only in this way will it be possible to continue developing more projects that allow the country to meet its renewable objectives for 2030".
For his part, the CEO of ScottishPower Renewables, Charlie Jordan, stressed that the purchased wind turbines will generate enough clean energy to supply 1.3 million British homes.
Siemens Energy will provide a grid connection solution to ensure that the generated electricity can reach the shoreline.
Under the contract signed last year, Siemens Energy will build an offshore converter to collect alternating current generated by Siemens Gamesa's wind turbines and convert it into direct current for transmission to shore in the most efficient way possible.
A second converter on land will transform the energy back into alternating current to be able to feed the local network and, finally, supply homes.
