MHI Vestas Offshore Wind has received an order from EDF Energy Renewables for five V164-8.0 MW turbines to be installed at the 41.5 MW Blyth Offshore Demonstrator Project.
The V164-8.0 MW turbines – rated with a capacity of 8MW – have been optimised for the project, utilising a power mode to be able to deliver a maximum output of 8.3MW.
“We are delighted to have received an order from EDF Energy Renewables for the Blyth Offshore Project,” said Jens Tommerup, CEO of MHI Vestas Offshore Wind.
“Blyth will be the first offshore project which MHI Vestas and EDF Energy Renewables will install together, and we look forward to partnering on an innovative project where the latest technologies will be tested.”
The order includes a 15-year full scope service contract with an availability guarantee.
The Blyth Offshore Project will be the first to feature 66kV electrical infrastructure . The V164-8.0 MW turbines feature new transformers and switchgears to enable connection to the 66kV grid. Use of the 66kV system allows approximately double the amount of wind turbines to be connected on one equivalent array cable string compared to the existing 33kV system.
Furthermore, the project will utilise gravity base foundations – the first time this type of foundation will be used for an offshore wind farm. The hybrid foundation combines a steel reinforced concrete foundation, with a steel monopile, allowing the foundation to be installed in waters up to 45 metres while eliminating noise from pile hammering during installation.
Blades for the Blyth Offshore wind farm will be produced at the MHI Vestas blade factory on the Isle of Wight, where over 280 employees commenced serial production of 80-metre blades for the Burbo Bank Extension project in May 2015.
“We are proud to produce high-technology components for our turbines in the UK and be part of the continuous expansion of the local supply chain for offshore wind power. The prototype blades for the V164-8.0 MW were designed, manufactured and tested at the Isle of Wight facility and we have developed the unique skills and processes necessary to produce blades on a large scale,” said Tommerup.