Onshore work is underway, and offshore work – including turbine installation – is expected to start in 2017 installing the first five turbines which will provide 41.5MW of capacity.
The windfarm, located off the coast of Blyth, has permission for a maximum total generating capacity of nearly 100MW.
Power generated will be supplied to an electricity substation for transmission to the National Grid.
EDF Energy Renewables chief executive Matthieu Hue said: “As a company, we already have a strong presence in the North East, in low carbon electricity generation and serving customers including our first offshore wind farm at Teesside so we’re pleased to be able to add another project to our portfolio in the region.”
The project will use offshore wind turbines manufactured and installed by MHI Vestas Offshore Wind and will be the first to use 66Kv cable technology. The standard voltage for cables has previously been 33Kv.
RenewableUK has welcomed Blyth offshore windfarm, hailing it as a “significant step in the evolution of the offshore wind industry”.
RenewableUK chief executive Hugh McNeal said: “The Blyth project highlights how Britain is leading the way in offshore wind innovation. Our industry is at the forefront of developing renewable technology that will be exported around the world.”