Burbo Bank

Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm Profile

Location and Overview

The Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm is situated on the Burbo Flats in Liverpool Bay, approximately 7 km northwest of Wirral and 6 km west of the Sefton coastline, in the Irish Sea on the west coast of the UK.

Development and Ownership

The wind farm was initially developed by SeaScape Energy, a joint venture involving Zilkha Renewable Energy, enXco A/S, and Wind Prospect Ltd. In 2005, DONG Energy (now Ørsted) acquired SeaScape Energy. The project is currently owned by Ørsted, along with partners Greencoat Renewable Income, Greencoat UK Wind, and KIRKBI (the parent company of the LEGO Group).

Phases of Development

Phase I (Original Wind Farm)

• Capacity: 90 MW
• Turbines: 25 Siemens Wind Power SWT-3.6-107 turbines, each with a 3.6 MW capacity
• Commissioning: The wind farm began generating power in July 2007 and was officially inaugurated on October 18, 2007
• Location: Burbo Flats in Liverpool Bay
• Capital Cost: €181 million
• Levelised Cost: Estimated at £87/MWh
• Impact: The wind farm is capable of powering approximately 80,000 households, which is about 12% of Merseyside’s electricity demand. It reduces CO₂ emissions by more than 300,000 tonnes per year.

Phase II (Burbo Bank Extension)

• Capacity: 258 MW
• Turbines: 32 MHI Vestas V164-8.0 MW turbines
• Commissioning: The extension began generating power in November 2016 and was officially opened in May 2017
• Location: An area of 40 km² to the west of the original wind farm
• Levelised Cost: Estimated at £147/MWh
• Impact: This extension generates enough electricity to power nearly 230,000 homes, further contributing to the UK’s renewable energy targets.

Construction and Installation

• Phase I: Siemens Power Generation erected the turbines in less than 1.5 months. The turbines were assembled in the port of Mostyn, North Wales, before being transported to the site. Each turbine was erected in five heavy lifts, with an average erection time of less than half a day.
• Phase II: A2SEA was responsible for the installation of the turbines. Jan De Nul Group installed the export and infield cables, while Van Oord handled the installation of the foundations. The project also involved the use of UK-manufactured blades and transition pieces from Teesside factory Offshore Structures Britain.

Environmental and Operational Aspects

• Environmental Impact: The project underwent extensive environmental impact assessments to minimize effects on shipping lanes, recreational sailing activities, and sea bird habitats. The wind farm is designed to be decommissioned after approximately 20-25 years of operation, including the removal of all offshore components above seabed level.
• Operational Performance: Between 2008 and 2010, the capacity factor for the original wind farm was between 32 and 35%. There was a brief outage in 2009 due to an electrical cable failure, and in 2010, Siemens replaced the blade bearings on all 25 turbines as a precautionary measure.

Contractors and Partners

• Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy: Provided the SWT-3.6-107 turbines for Phase I and is involved in operations and maintenance.
• MHI Vestas: Supplied the V164-8.0 MW turbines for Phase II.
• Jan De Nul Group: Installed export and infield cables for the extension.
• Van Oord: Installed foundations for the extension.
• A2SEA: Installed turbines for the extension.

Economic and Social Impact

• Job Creation: The construction of the extension and the new operations facility in Merseyside created up to 75 jobs during construction and around 45 permanent jobs once operational.
• Investment and Partnerships: The project is a joint venture between Ørsted (50%), PKA (25%), and KIRKBI (25%). It has contributed significantly to the UK’s renewable energy targets and has helped develop the UK supply chain.

Technical Specifications

• Turbine Heights: The tubular steel towers for Phase I are 83.5 meters high.
• Foundation Type: Both phases use monopile foundations.
• Power Purchase Agreement: The power generated from the wind farm is sold under various agreements, including a 2-year power purchase agreement with Statkraft for 45 MW from 2011.

The Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm is a significant example of innovation and growth in the offshore wind industry, showcasing the rapid advancement in turbine technology and the commitment to renewable energy.