First electricity generated at Greater Gabbard and Walney offshore wind farms in the UK

Greater Gabbard and Walney offshore wind farms have each generated electricity for the first time. Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm, in which SSE owns a 50% stake, is being developed with RWE npower renewables, the UK subsidiary of RWE Innogy. It is located approximately 23 km off the Suffolk coast, in the North Sea. The first three turbines have now been energised and have exported electricity to the national grid. Walney offshore wind farm, in which Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) owns a 25.1% stake, is being developed with DONG Energy and a consortium of PGGM and Dutch Ampère Equity Fund. Located in the Irish Sea, approximately 15 km west of Barrow-in-Furness, it consists of two wind farms - Walney 1 and Walney 2, each with a capacity of 183.6 MW. Construction of Walney 1 started in March 2010 and is progressing well with all of the planned 51 turbines having been successfully installed. The first turbines have now been energised and have exported power to the national grid. Walney 1 is expected to be fully commissioned in the first half of 2011. Construction of Walney 2 is due to start around March and be fully commissioned by the end of 2011.