Walney Offshore Windfarms commissions 367MW wind farm in UK

The Walney Offshore Windfarms has commissioned 367MW Walney wind offshore farm located off the coast of Cambria, UK.

The wind farm combines of two projects Walney 1 and 2, and is a joint venture between DONG Energy with 50.1% share, SSE owning 25.1% and OPW with 24.8% share.

The Walney wind farm has become operational with all 102 turbines generating sufficient energy to address the power needs of up to 320,000 households.

DONG Energy UK Wind Power operations director Benjamin Sykes said the project will now provide clean energy directly into the UK’s grid.

"Walney is the first project in the UK to be backed by institutional investors before it was built – a confidence justified by the speed and efficiency of the construction. It shows our commitment to offshore wind development in the UK and to driving down costs," Sykes said.

SSE Renewables managing director Jim Smith said, "Walney is a great example of how much offshore wind has matured as an industry in a relatively short time, and will provide a significant contribution to the UK government’s CO2 reduction targets and fuel security ambitions."

The electricity produced from the wind farm will be delivered into the UK’s grid.

OPW, a consortium of the Dutch pension fund service provider PGGM and the Ampere Equity Fund, invested in the wind farm for a 24.8% stake in the project.