Aberdeen

Location and Site Characteristics

• The wind farm is situated between 2km and 5km off the Aberdeenshire coast in Aberdeen Bay.
• The turbines are installed in an area of 7km², with water depths ranging between 20m and 30m.

Turbines and Capacity

• The wind farm consists of 11 offshore wind turbines:
  • Nine Vestas V164-8.4MW turbines
  • Two Vestas V164-8.8MW turbines, which are among the most powerful commercial offshore wind turbines at the time of installation.
• The total installed capacity of the wind farm is 93.2MW.

Technology and Innovations

• The project features the latest models of high-capacity turbines designed for low-cost power generation. The turbines have a maximum tip height of 191m and a maximum rotor diameter of 164m. The front row turbines are slightly shorter, with a height of 180.5m.
• The use of enhanced internal power modes allowed the 8.8MW turbines to increase their capacity from the standard 8.4MW of the V164 platform.

Construction and Installation

• The project was developed by the Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm Ltd (AOWFL), a joint venture between Vattenfall, Technip, and the Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG).
• The offshore site investigation work was completed by April 2016, and offshore construction began in October 2016. The first turbine was installed on 9 April 2018, and the final turbine was installed by the end of May 2018.
• The Asian Hercules III, one of the world’s largest floating cranes, was used to install the steel jacket foundations. The export cables were installed using the NDurance installation vessel.

Power Transmission

• The electricity generated by the turbines is transmitted through a 13km-long array cable to an offshore transformer. From there, export cables transport the power to the onshore substation at Blackdog village. The power is then transformed to 132kV for transmission to SSE’s Dyce substation, and further transformed to 275kV before being fed into the National Grid network.

Environmental and Socio-Economic Impact

• The project faced legal challenges, notably from Donald Trump, who opposed the wind farm due to its proximity to his planned golf course development. However, the UK Supreme Court ruled in favor of the project in 2015.
• The wind farm is expected to generate enough electricity to power nearly 80,000 homes and meet approximately 23% of Aberdeen’s total electricity demand. It will also offset around 134,128 metric tons of CO2 annually.
• A comprehensive seabird study was conducted to understand seabird flight behavior and avoid collisions. The study involved detailed monitoring and tracking of seabirds within the wind farm area.

Research and Testing

• The EOWDC serves as a demonstration and testing site for new generation turbine technologies. It involves collaboration with turbine manufacturers, universities, and research institutes to validate and accredit these technologies before commercial deployment.

Socio-Economic Benefits

• The project has been monitored over its lifecycle to assess its socio-economic impacts. This includes examining the impacts during pre-construction, peak construction, and early operation and maintenance stages. The study aims to enhance understanding of the socio-economic benefits and identify best practices for maximizing local benefits.

Funding and Support

• The project was supported by a €40 million grant from the European Union. The total investment in the project was approximately £230 million (around $349 million).

Operational Timeline

• The wind farm was officially opened in September 2018 and is expected to operate for approximately 20 years.

The EOWDC is a pioneering project in the offshore wind industry, showcasing innovative technologies and contributing significantly to Scotland's renewable energy goals.