Hornsea 3 developers prepare to install first offshore wind turbine

Developers of the 2.9GW Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm are preparing to install the project’s first wind turbine. The facility is set to become the largest in the world upon completion. Luke Bridgman, managing director of Hornsea 3, confirmed that two wind turbine installation vessels, Wind Ally and Wind Orca, are currently at the ports of Hull and Able Seaton. They are getting ready to load the first turbine parts for installation on the foundations.

The project will utilise a total of 197 Siemens Gamesa SG 14-236 wind turbines, each rated at 14MW. Bridgman noted that the team is also working with array cables, with a couple already in place and further work scheduled to continue through the end of the year. Monopile installation is underway and will proceed alongside the completion of the export cable. Both export circuits are expected to be installed end to end before the year concludes.

By this time in 2027, Bridgman stated that both transmission circuits will be in and energised, along with all foundations and array cables. The final few turbines are scheduled to be installed by November of next year. Danish renewables company Ørsted is developing the offshore project and holds a 50 per cent ownership stake, alongside funds owned by Apollo Global Management.