Neart na Gaoithe

Neart na Gaoithe Offshore Wind Farm Profile

Location and Site Characteristics

• The Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm is located approximately 15.5 km off the coast of Fife, Scotland.
• The site covers an area of approximately 105 km².

Ownership and Development

• The project is owned by EDF Renewables UK and Ireland-based energy company ESB, with each holding a 50% stake.
• EDF Renewables acquired the project from Mainstream Renewable Power in May 2018 as part of a competitive bidding process.

Capacity and Energy Production

• The wind farm has the potential to generate up to 450 MW of renewable energy, enough to power around 375,000 Scottish homes, which is more than the entire city of Edinburgh.
• It is expected to offset over 400,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.

Turbines and Infrastructure

• The wind farm will consist of 54 Siemens Gamesa turbines, specifically the SG 8.0-167 DD model, each with an 8MW nameplate capacity, although initial plans mentioned Siemens SWT-6.0-154 turbines.
• The turbines will be mounted on fixed jacket foundations and interconnected by 66kV inter-array cables.

Construction and Timeline

• Onshore construction commenced in 2020, and offshore construction also began in the same year.
• The first turbines are now connected to the national grid and generating power, with all turbines expected to be commissioned in the next few months. The site is expected to be fully completed by summer 2025.

Onshore Transmission Works

• The onshore grid connection is at Crystal Rig onshore wind farm near Dunbar, East Lothian. The export cable landfall is at Thorntonloch Beach, with a 12.5 km buried cable route to the substation at Crystal Rig.
• Planning permission for onshore works was granted in June 2013, and onshore construction was carried out by GE and Prysmian.

Operations and Maintenance

• The Operations and Maintenance Base is located in Eyemouth, overlooking Eyemouth Harbour. This base will create around 50 permanent jobs over the 25-year operational life of the wind farm.

Environmental and Community Impact

• The site was chosen for its technical, economic, and environmental deliverability, considering factors such as water depth, ground condition, expected energy yield, and access to port facilities.
• The project has already supported 24 community projects in the east of Scotland, including the Berwickshire Marine Trust, Dunbar Youth Football Club, and the Anstruther Philharmonic Society.

Contractors and Suppliers

• Key contractors include Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy for turbine supply, Welcon for tower supply, GeoSea for wind turbine foundations and installation, and the STDL/Prysmian consortium for electrical works.

Financial and Regulatory Aspects

• The project represents an investment of £2 billion in Scotland’s energy infrastructure.
• NnG has secured a Contract for Difference (CfD) with an inflation-linked strike price for the electricity it produces for a period of 15 years, making the project financeable.

Additional Facts

• The name "Neart na Gaoithe" translates to "Strength of the Wind" in Gaelic.
• The wind farm will have a planned operational life of 25 years, with the possibility of decommissioning or repowering thereafter.