The huge structures are slightly longer than a Premier League football pitch
From left: Jason Ledden, senior project director, Hornsea 3; Andy Sykes, plant director, Siemens Gamesa and, Luke Bridgman, managing director Hornsea 3(Image: Chris Booth)
Giant blades that will drive wind turbines out in the North Sea are now being built by Hull workers at Siemens Gamesa. Production for Ørsted’s Hornsea 3, the world’s single largest offshore wind farm, has started at the Alexandra Dock plant which employs 1,400 people.
The blades each measure 115m long – slightly longer than a Premier League football pitch. Each 15MW turbine will take three blades and once operational, Hornsea 3 will be capable of generating 2.9GW of clean energy – enough to power more than 3.3m UK homes
It is the third in Ørsted’s Hornsea Zone, following Hornsea 1 and 2, which together are capable of generating enough power for 2.5 million UK homes. Blades for those farms were produced in Hull.
The Hornsea region is managed from Ørsted’s Royal Dock, Grimsby hub. And the first of nearly 200 massive foundations for the turbines that will make up Hornsea 3 was positioned off the East Yorkshire coast earlier this year.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “This is what good growth in every postcode looks like – world-leading offshore wind blades built in Hull, powering clean homegrown electricity for millions of homes from off the coast of Yorkshire. As we tackle the root cause of high energy bills, our exposure to volatile international fossil fuel markets, we are determined that the homegrown power we build must deliver for Britain too: creating British jobs and backing British innovation in our communities.”
Luke Bridgman, managing director, Hornsea 3 at Ørsted, said: “This is a proud milestone for the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm and these massive blades reflect how offshore wind energy continues to develop. This impressive feat of engineering is another part of the jigsaw that will help to power the UK.”
Darren Davidson, UK vice president for Siemens Energy and Siemens Gamesa, said: “Projects like Hornsea 3 demonstrate the scale of industrial capability required to deliver the energy transition. At 115 metres, these are the largest blades ever manufactured in the UK, reflecting how far offshore wind technology has advanced in recent years.
“Producing them in Hull is the result of over 10 years of investment in facilities, people, and expertise, and shows how offshore wind can support skilled manufacturing jobs while strengthening the UK’s domestic supply chain.”
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