Danish energy firm Ørsted has announced that world’s largest offshore wind farm, Hornsea 2, is now fully operational.
Situated 55 miles off the coast of Yorkshire, the offshore wind farm comprises 165 wind turbines generating 1.3 gigawatts of renewable energy. This will help power around 1.4 million UK homes, according to Ørsted, and promote low-cost, clean, and secure renewable energy.
Each one of the turbines stands at about 200 metres tall, from sea level to the tip of the 81-metre blades, and one revolution of the blades is said to be able to power an average UK home for 24 hours.
As part of a larger wind farm development, the 462 square-kilometre Hornsea 2 project sits alongside its sibling Hornsea 1, and together they are working to make a significant contribution to the UK Government’s ambition of having 50 gigawatt offshore wind operation by 2030.
“The UK is truly a world leader in offshore wind and the completion of Hornsea 2 is a tremendous milestone for the offshore wind industry, not just in the UK but globally,” commented Duncan Clark, Head of Region UK at Ørsted.
“Current global events highlight more than ever the importance of landmark renewable energy projects like Hornsea 2, helping the UK increase the security and resilience of its energy supply and drive down costs for consumers by reducing dependence on expensive fossil fuels.”
The Hornsea Zone, an area of the North Sea covering more than 2,000 square kilometres, is also set to include Hornsea 3. This next project is set to follow on from Hornsea 2, generating 2.8 gigawatts of energy, having been awarded a Contract for Difference (a mechanism for supporting low-carbon electricity generation) from the UK government earlier this year.
Learn more about the ambitions of Danish energy firm Ørsted.
Take a look at lots more sustainability news here on enki, including the story behind Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard’s recent statement: “We’re making Earth our only shareholder”.
