Following a competitive tender by Dong Energy, Vestas has been chosen as the preferred supplier with a proposal to deliver its V164-8.0 MW turbine for the extension of the Burbo Bank offshore wind farm which is located in Liverpool Bay, on the west coast of the UK.
The choice of the 8 MW unit is subject to the windfarm’s being awarded a Contract for Difference under the UK government’s EMR FID-enabling regime, and to the parties agreeing on a detailed supply agreement which is expected to be signed later this year.
"The performance of the 8 MW turbine from Vestas is very promising. I see this as a very concrete step towards reducing the cost of electricity from offshore wind. A competitive market for all components is essential to accomplishing this. I look forward to working with Vestas and the other members of our supply chain to find further reductions in the cost of electricity," said Samuel Leupold, executive vp at Dong Energy.
In December 2012 Dong Energy and Vestas entered into an agreement to co-operate on a number of test activities for the prototype of the V164-8.0 MW at the test centre in Østerild to accelerate the development of the turbine.
The Burbo Bank Extension has a maximum capacity of 258 MW and is located 7 km off the English coast adjacent to the existing Burbo Bank wind farm which has a capacity of 90 MW. Based on the expected permitting process and timetable for the offshore wind farm, installation could get under way in H2 of 2016. Dong has not yet taken a final investment decision to build the wind farm.
Photo: Prototype WTG at its test site in Østerild
