Neart Na Gaoithe

Neart Na Gaoithe ("strength of the wind" in Gaelic, pronounced [ˈɲarʃd nə gɤ.jə]) is an offshore wind farm under construction in the outer Firth of Forth, 30 kilometres (19 mi) north of Torness. It has a potential capacity of 450 MW . It is being developed by Mainstream Renewable Power at a cost of £1.4bn.

Neart Na Gaoithe
CountryScotland
LocationFirth of Forth
Coordinates56°16′04″N 2°19′15″W
StatusUnder construction
Construction beganAugust 2020 (2020-08)
Owner(s)EDF Renewables ESB
Wind farm
TypeOffshore
Distance from shore20 km (12 mi)
Rotor diameter154 metres (505 ft)
Power generation
Make and modelSiemens SWT-8.0-167
Units planned54
Nameplate capacity450 MW

Planning

Mainstream Renewable Power was awarded exclusive rights to develop the wind farm in February 2009.[1] They proposed using 125 3.6MW turbines or 75 6MW turbines to achieve a total capacity of between 420 and 450 megawatts.[1] In 2011, surveyors conducting a detailed preparatory survey of the sea floor published sonar images of the wrecks of the two submarines – K-4 and K-17 – sunk during the Battle of May Island in 1918.[2]

A planning application was submitted in July 2012.[3] The developers said that the wind farm would occupy an area of around 65 square miles, would require between 64 and 125 turbines, and would have a rated capacity of 450MW.[3] The estimated cost was £1.4 billion.[3]

In February 2014 they confirmed that they would be using 75 Siemens SWT-6.0-154 turbines each with a 6 megawatt capacity.[4] A UK government contract was awarded in February 2015.[5] Construction was expected to begin in 2015,[6] but in January 2015 the RSPB submitted a legal challenge citing concerns over the impact on seabirds.[7] The case was heard at the Court of Session in Edinburgh in May 2015.[7] In May 2017 the same court overturned a July 2016 block of the project.[8][9][10] An RSPB appeal was denied in July 2017.[11]

The project was acquired in May 2018 by EDF and is expected to be commissioned in 2023.[12] In December 2018, permission was received from the Scottish government to reduce the number of turbines to 54 while maintaining the same overall capacity. Construction began in August 2020.[13] The wind farm should be operational by 2023.[14]

See also

References
  1. Wind views wanted, East Lothian Courier, 28 Apr 2011
  2. Macdonell, Hamish (August 13, 2011). "Sea search stumbles upon submarines Navy tried to forget". The Times Scotland. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
  3. "Mainstream submits £1.4bn plan for Fife wind farm", BBC News, 29 July 2012
  4. Critical period for Fife's £1.4 billion Neart Na Gaoithe windfarm as preferred contractors named, TheCourier, 20 February 2014
  5. "Scottish wind farm projects secure contracts". BBC News. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  6. "UK green policy risks development, say Scots ministers", BBC News, 4 December 2013
  7. "RSPB confident over legal challenge to massive windfarm projects". thecourier.co.uk. 22 May 2015.
  8. Thomas, Nathalie (2017-05-17). "Judge overturns block on Scottish wind farms". ft.com. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  9. https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/search-judgments/judgment?id=116833a7-8980-69d2-b500-ff0000d74aa7
  10. "Inner House of the Court of Session in favour of Scottish Ministers". neartnagaoithe.com. 2017-05-16. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  11. "Go-Ahead Given For 450 Megawatt Neart na Gaoithe Offshore Wind Farm". CleanTechnica. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  12. https://cleantechnica.com/2018/05/04/edf-group-acquires-troubled-450-megawatt-neart-na-gaoithe-offshore-wind-farm/
  13. "Neart na Gaoithe project enters first phase of offshore construction".
  14. "Scottish Government gives consent for Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm".
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