The last of the 116 wind turbines which have sprung up off the Brighton coast has now been switched on, bringing the total amount of electricity generated by the farm to 400MW – enough to power half the homes in Sussex.
The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm began construction in early 2016, and two years later the last major milestone on the way to completion has been reached.
More work is scheduled to be carried out at the onshore and offshore substations, and the whole project should be completed and fully operational later this year.
Matthew Swanwick, Project Director for the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm said: “We’re delighted to have now reached the point where all of the wind turbines are up and running and contributing yet more clean power, adding to the UK’s growing renewables fleet and its ability to help meet the UK’s energy needs.
“We still have a number of activities to complete, for example at the onshore and offshore substations and landfall, so people will continue to still see ongoing activities offshore and onshore over the coming months. Full reinstatement of the onshore cable route back to its former condition is another top priority for us this year.”
The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm is being built 13km off the Sussex coast by E.ON, Canadian energy infrastructure company Enbridge and a consortium comprising of the Green Investment Group, Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 5 and the Universities Superannuation Scheme.
It may be producing enough power for half the homes in Sussex but where is the power actually being used…..
That’s exactly my thoughts too!
Along with all other electrical power produced in this country, by whichever means, it is fed into the national grid.
Any truth in the rumour these things only have a 25 year life span ?
I really hope our successors wont have a sea view of 116 rusty, broken turbines in a few years time.
It’s not a rumour, it’s clearly stated on the Rampion Website…. Design life for a turbine is 20-25 yrs, at which point they will either replace with the same ones, or the latest technology at the time as they have a 50 year lease for the site.
Hardly likely to leave them ‘broken’ given they will be making tons of cash for them!
& of course coal & oil-fired power stations last for ever with no maintenance (not to mentioned nuclear)… not 🙂
But nobody ever suggested building a nuclear power station in the sea, facing the precious Sussex coastline, our greatest natural local resource. What happens to these things when they are finished and no good in 25 years time? They could end up looking like the west pier but worse, a rusting horrible mess.
Negative people. My god.
Hear hear
A completely unfounded, irrational fear.
They are needed to contribute electricity to the national grid and to make a healthy profit for E-On.
They will be maintained and replaced as necessary, just like electricity pylons or other similar structures.
Do you really think that E-On, or anyone else, is just going to sit back and watch all their planning, investment and profits just rust away?
You have no idea, have you?
Part of the contract is to remove all the turbines at the end of the 50 year lease.
Wind turbines – I hardly notice the things any more.
We have a power generation capacity shortage in the UK and should use any means possible to generate more. Wind turbines, onshore or offshore, are one method, so put them anywhere you can.
I, in the future, something better, cleaner and cheaper comes along, then wind turbines can be taken away and it’s like they were never there, unlike nuclear.
Renewable energy might not be reliable 100% of the time, but any time you aren’t using coal or gas, it’s got to be a good thing.
The thing is they won’t even light a light bulb if is not windy, what a joke , plus the mantainance cost is astronomic, as first promised cheaper electric l don’t think so.