The largest offshore wind farm in Scotland has recently become fully operational
and it will be able to supply 1.6 million homes with electricity.
Renewable energy subsidiary, SSE Renewables and French energy and petroleum company, TotalEnergies announced that this new offshore wind farm is now supplying clean and renewable energy to Britain’s power grid.
The offshore wind farm, known as Seagreen Wind Farm, is located within the North Sea’s Firth of Forth, 27km of the Angus Coast in Scotland. The wind farm has the record for being the largest and also the deepest, due to being bottom fixed. This is because the wind farm consists of 114 wind turbines and is installed into a foundation 58.7 metres below sea level. This project is also one of the biggest construction projects that has occurred within Scotland.
With these wind turbines, it has been predicted that this offshore wind farm can produce enough renewable energy to supply two thirds of Scottish homes with electricity. This equates to around 1.6 million homes.
The electricity will reach the mainland of Scotland through a series of subsea cables that will connect the Seagreen offshore wind farm to Carnoustie. Then using 19km of cables, Carnoustie will be connected to a substation in Tealing, a village in eastern Scotland. From here the electricity will be distributed through the power grid to homes and businesses.
Claire Coutinho, who was appointed as the UK’s new Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, at the end of August this year (2023), has stated that:
“Offshore wind is a resounding British success story and Seagreen becoming
operational is yet more proof of our world-leading status…
Not only has it become Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm, but it also
results in the UK having the world’s five largestoperational windfarms off its shores…
Producing enough electricity to power the equivalent of 1.6million British homes,
Seagreen will help deliver on our net zero ambitions and provide cheaper, cleaner,
and more secure energy around the country.”
In regards to Scotland being net zero, the Seagreen Wind Farm, due to its operations should reduce carbon dioxide emissions by two million tonnes every year. Due to the reduced need for energy generated through fossil fuels, which overall will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Not only will this offshore wind farm produce renewable energy for homes in Scotland it will also create and support 4,000 jobs, and many of these jobs will allow workers to increase or gain green skills. There are also claims, within an analysis made by accountancy company, PwC, that these new jobs will give Scotland’s economy a boost of over £1 billion.
This offshore wind farm can produce enough electricity
for two thirds of Scottish homes.
Humza Yousaf, the First Minister of Scotland has stated that:
“Delivering on our climate obligations is an absolute priority for
the Scottish Government – so too is our unwavering commitment to a just
transition for workers…
We are determined to maximise the economic opportunity Scotland’s
offshore wind potential presents, by developing local
supply chains, embedding innovation, boosting skills, creating jobs, and
benefitting people and communities.”
The First Minister also claimed that the fact the offshore wind farm is now operational is a ‘significant milestone’ for Scotland and their transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
The Managing Director of SSE Renewables, Stephen Wheeler, claims that:
