The world's biggest wind turbines will help UK power 230,000 homes
One rotation of each turbine produces enough electricity to power a home for 29 hours
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
A UK wind farm using the world's most powerful offshore wind turbines to generate power will generate power for 230,000 homes.
Dong Energy's Burbo Bank Extension wind farm, off Liverpool Bay, is the first time the huge MHI Vestas turbines have been deployed commercially.
Each 8mw (megawatt) turbine is 195 metres tall, higher than London's Gherkin tower, with blades that are 80 metres long, and one rotation produces enough electricity to power a home for 29 hours.
The wind farm has 32 turbines in total.
The scheme's backers say the project has helped develop the UK supply chain, with blades designed and made in the Isle of Wight and transition pieces that link turbine towers to foundations made in Teesside, while assembly took place in Belfast.
Dong Energy said just one of the turbines produces more energy than the whole of Vindeby, the world's first offshore wind farm which the company constructed 25 years ago in Denmark.
Chief executive Henrik Poulsen said: "Burbo Bank Extension showcases the rapid innovation in the offshore wind industry.
"Less than 10 years ago at Burbo Bank, we were the first to install Siemens 3.6mw wind turbines and in this short time, the wind turbines have more than doubled in capacity.
"Pushing innovation in this way reduces the cost of electricity from offshore wind and will help to advance the offshore wind industry across the world."
Steve Rotheram, metro mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: "The offshore wind industry has a huge contribution to make to the growing UK based supply chain, and utilising our renewable energy sources is vital to ensuring the Liverpool City Region cements its position as a low-carbon leader."
The Burbo Bank Extension scheme is a joint venture between Dong, PKA and Kirkbi A/S, parent company of the Lego Group, which said it had met its target to match 100 per cent of its energy use with renewable power three years early as a result.
Bali Padda, chief executive of the Lego Group, said: "This development means we have now reached the 100 per cent renewable energy milestone three years ahead of target.
"Together with our partners, we intend to continue investing in renewable energy to help create a better future for the builders of tomorrow."
To mark the milestone, Lego has constructed a Guinness World Record-breaking 7.5 metre-high Lego wind turbine, made with more than 146,251 bricks and taking a team of 10 to 15 people more than 600 hours to complete.
Additional reporting by Press Association
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments