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Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm


Wind Farm

Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm
Construction Information(4) - Turbine Installation Continuing

Further to the previous information newsletter, the construction of the 48 turbine Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm, 7km off Clacton and Holland Essex coast in the Northern Thames Estuary, is proceeding well, with the continuing erection of the turbines.

All of the 48 foundation piles have been installed with minimum local disturbance, confirmed by a successful noise monitoring programme.

A number of vessels are working out of Brightlingsea on the River Colne, these boats carry out monitoring surveys and continuing environmental studies, they are also used to ferry personnel to and from the wind farm construction site.

The 48 wind turbines will be erected during the spring and summer months this year and will be commissioned in phases as the turbines become available for energy production. Commissioning will start during autumn 2009, and the wind farm will reach full production during 2010. All but 4 of the turbines have been installed as of 1 January 2010. These will be completed during January 2010.

The Gunfleet Sands project when complete, will generate enough clean renewable energy for approximately 120,000 households or approximately 20% of the households in Essex. The project will make a considerable contribution to the domestic UK target of reducing CO2 emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2010.

Gunfleet Sands Project Programme

  • March 2004 - Consents awarded for Gunfleet Sands 1
  • March 2008 - Consents for Gunfleet Sands 2
  • March 2008 - Commencement of onshore construction works
  • October 2008 - Commencement of offshore construction covering foundations and cabling
  • Spring/Autumn 2009 - Turbine installation
  • Autumn 2009/Spring 2010 - Project commissioning - in five phases
  • Spring 2010 - Offshore wind farm fully operational

If there are any queries relating to the continuing construction of the wind farm contact Environmental Services on 01255 686767 or email environmental.services@tendringdc.gov.uk

If you wish to contact the DONG Energy Gunfleet Sands project team, please address your concern to:
Peter N Sills
Communications Manager
Gunfleet Sands Limited
DONG Energy A/S
Oliver's Wharf
Copperas Road
Brightlingsea
Essex CO7 0AR

Or email: peter@sillson.com

Useful links:

British Wind Energy Association

Dong Energy - Gunfleet Sands information



Page Last Updated
08 January 2010