Blyth Offshore Wind Farm : EDF Renewables to use floating turbines for phase 2

EDF Renewables, in late January 2021, revealed plans to develop phase two of the Blyth Offshore Wind Farm in the UK by using floating offshore wind technology.

The Blyth offshore wind project is located 0.5 miles off the coast of Blyth, Northumberland, UK. In 2017, the first phase of the wind farm was completed with five wind turbines with a combined capacity of 41.5MW.

It is the first offshore wind project in the UK to use float and submerge gravity base foundations.

On completion of the second phase, the Blyth Offshore Wind Farm is expected to become one of the first floating offshore wind projects in UK territorial waters.

Phase 1 of the Blyth Offshore Wind Farm in the UK. Photo courtesy of EDF Group.

Michele Schiavone – Director of Offshore wind at EDF Renewables said: “We are very excited about this next phase of the BOD project and want to further the demonstration of construction and operation of floating turbines to show that floating wind is technically feasible and cost competitive in water depths of 50-60 meters.

“With the Contract for Difference (CfD) mechanism providing a potential route to market, we are confident that floating turbine technology can accelerate the UK’s journey to a net zero future where clean energy powers all our lives. We will use the project to support the further development of this emerging technology.”

EDF Renewables stated that it is already engaged in project planning for phase two with a consent variation and procurement activities in progress for using the project site for installing up to five more turbines, 14 kilometers from the shore in water depths of around 55 meters.

The company said that the capacity for phase two of the Blyth Offshore Wind Farm is not yet finalized. However, the current consent for the offshore wind farm is limited to up to 99.9MW, which means the remaining consented capacity is 58.4MW.

For phase two of the Blyth Offshore Wind, turbines will be installed on floating substructures. Phase 2 of the offshore UK wind farm is targeted to be fully commissioned by the Spring of 2025.