The energy for a quarter of London’s homes will be generated by one of the world’s biggest wind farms in the Greater Thames Estuary. The first turbines are expected to go up in 2008 with works scheduled to finish by 2010. With its 1 gigawatt capacity, it is expected to become the world’s largest offshore wind farm. The project will cover 90 sq miles (232 sq km) between Margate in Kent and Clacton, Essex and represents nearly 10% of the Government’s renewable target for 2010.

Some of the reasons the site is regarded as very suitable for a large-scale offshore wind farm include:

• High wind speeds
• Low water depth
• Proximity of nearby ports for construction, operation and maintenance
• Minimum interference with established shipping channels
• Suitable ground conditions
• Suitable grid connection
• Proximity of power demand - South East England has the highest demand for electricity in the UK

Key elements of the London Array project are:

• Up to 271 turbines, installed over a four year period
• Associated offshore and onshore substations
• Cabling (between turbines and to shore)

The wind turbines will typically begin generating electricity at a minimum wind speed of 3 metres per second (m/s) or approximately 7mph, with full power being achieved from 13m/s (approx. 29mph). For safety reasons they would begin to shut down at wind speeds greater than 25m/s (approx. 56mph or a force 9 gale).

Upon completion London Array will provide around 750,000 homes’ annual electricity needs - that’s around a quarter of Greater London or of the homes in Kent and East Sussex. It will prevent the emission of 1.9million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year - enough to fill Wembley Stadium 250 times over.

London Array Offshore Wind Farm, a £1.5 billion project, is being developed by a consortium (London Array Limited) comprising three partners - E.ON UK Renewables, Shell WindEnergy Ltd and CORE Ltd.

International Marine Consultancy has provided various types of floating equipment (tugs, barges, jack-ups, crew boats, multicats and other shallow draft vessels) to many offshore construction sites. IMC has close and long standing relationships with operators in over 50 countries across seven continents enabling us to find you the right piece of equipment.

sources: London Array, E.ON UK, Seacore, Hays, BBC NEWS, London Thames Gateway Forum