Final turbine installed at Scotland’s largest offshore windfarm

The final turbines have been installed at the £2.6 billion Beatrice offshore windfarm.

With a total capacity of 588MW, Beatrice is the largest offshore windfarm in Scotland. It also features the deepest fixed foundations of any offshore windfarm in the world, stretching more than 56 metres from the seabed to sea level.

The 84-turbine project, located around 13 kilometres off the coast of Scotland in the Outer Moray Firth, is jointly owned by SSE Renewables (40 per cent), Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (35 per cent) and Red Rock Power (25 per cent).

“Delivering one of Scotland’s largest ever private investments on time and under budget is a fantastic achievement given its complexity,” said SSE Renewables managing director Jim Smith.

Red Rock chief executive Guy Madgwick added: “The completion of Beatrice signifies the monumental strides the Scottish offshore wind industry has made in recent years and marks the beginning of a new chapter as we prepare to bring 30GW clean and affordable wind energy to consumers by 2030.”

The news was welcomed by business and energy secretary Greg Clark, who said: “The offshore wind sector is a UK success story, and the completion of this windfarm is further evidence that the UK is the best place to invest in renewable energy.”

“In working with the government, the sector has shown it can deliver ever larger projects at ever lower costs while creating skilled, fulfilling, well-paid jobs. Our ground-breaking sector deal, signed earlier this year, will drive £250 million into businesses in the UK offshore wind supply chain – keeping the UK at the forefront of this vibrant 21st century industry.”