First turbine completed at huge Moray East wind farm in the Moray Firth; Global Energy's port at Nigg in Ross-shire is helping to pre-assemble the turbines
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A NEW offshore wind farm's first turbine has now been installed.
Moray East, which is being constructed in the Moray Firth using logistical support from an Easter Ross port, will have 100 9.5MW turbines when it is completed.
Work to install the 'jackets' on which each of the turbines will sit was completed in December.
Turbine components have also been arriving in the Moray Firth, where they have been stored and preserved onshore. Pre-assembly work is being undertaken at Global Energy’s facility at Nigg.
The 950MW wind farm is expected to be fully operational by 2022.
Commenting on the completion of the first of the wind farm's turbines, Moray East’s WTG Package Manager, Ewan Watson, said: “A turbine is the most iconic representation of the new offshore wind industry, and I am delighted to issue images of Moray East’s first turbine, a proudly towering 200m representation of engineering success against some of the most challenging circumstances the world has known."
Moray East’s head of construction, Enrique Alvarez Cordobes, added: “This has demanded precision engineering with massive components, requiring excellent co-operation and co-ordination between a range of companies both on land and at sea, and I would like to offer my thanks and congratulations to all those who have made this most distinctive and visible milestone possible.“
Moray East’s project director, Marcel Sunier said: “Moray East is the country’s largest infrastructure project, and a massive amount of effort represented by tonnes of steel and kilometres of cable – much of this below ground or sea - have been required to get us to this point.
“I am delighted to be able to announce one of the project’s most visible and distinctive milestones – the safe and successful installation of our first wind turbine.
"This is a truly amazing team effort considering the circumstances under which the teams had to work to achieve that important milestone. The resilience and good co-operation was one of the key factors in achieving this.
"I am looking forward to see the remaining 99 wind turbines being installed safely and successfully during the forthcoming months and wish to thank all those involved in making this happen.”
Related news: Final jacket put in place at Moray East wind farm site
