The World’s Largest Offshore Windfarm

Posted on October 14, 2019 by Kurz Industrial Solutions

In the global fight against climate change, people are doing what they can to reduce their impact on the environment. Wind energy, which is a popular form of renewable energy, is taking the lead in reducing dependency on fossil fuels and curtailing carbon emissions. From the smallest wind farm to multi-megawatt operations, people are doing their part to improve the environment. But Hornsea One, which is currently under construction, will be the biggest offshore wind farm in the world. Once complete, this massive offshore wind farm will have a power capacity of 1.2 gigawatts. This is twice the size of the world’s largest wind farm at present, which is situated in the Irish Sea. When complete, Hornsea will produce enough electricity to power one million homes, taking wind power to a new level.

The Power of One

Although it is located in the waters of Great Britain, Hornsea One was designed and constructed by a Danish company called Orsted. The fact that Hornsea One produces so much electricity gives you some indication of its sheer size. However, there are many more impressive facts behind the project’s name. For starters, the project is situated 75 miles off the coast of England. This makes it the farthest offshore wind farm in the world. The farm contains several massive wind turbines that cover a land area larger than Malta or the Maldives. The farm contains 174 wind turbines (seven MW each) that stand over 320 feet tall. The blades on each wind turbine have a 75-meter diameter. With each spin, the blades cover an area larger than the London Eye observation wheel. Just one rotation of the turbines’ blades can supply the average home with a day’s worth of power.

Who is Orsted?

Orsted, the company behind the biggest offshore wind farm in the world, originally focused on oil and natural gas. In 2017, it changed its name from “Danish Oil and Natural Gas” to “Orsted.” This name change reflected the company’s decision to move away from fossil fuels and embrace green energy technologies instead. Since 2006, Orsted has reduced its coal consumption by 73%. Its goal is to be completely coal-free by 2023. To date, Orsted has established wind projects in many areas around the world including Asia, the United States, and Europe. Great Britain was chosen as the ideal site for the world’s largest wind farm because it has the largest market for offshore wind. By the time Hornsea One is complete, Orsted will have invested approximately $15 billion in wind power.

Strength in Numbers

Hornsea’s One capabilities are impressive, especially for a single wind farm. When complete, the project’s net power production will put Great Britain much closer to meeting its wind energy goals for 2030, which includes sourcing one-third of its total electricity needs from offshore wind sources by 2030. Although the mega wind farm will help Great Britain come closer to its renewable energy goals, it won’t meet them alone. Instead, it will be joined by other wind projects, located on land and offshore, as part of a collective effort to reach government benchmarks for clean energy production. Great Britain is also part of a global community committed to improving the environment. In September 2019, nearly 80 countries joined a pact at the United Nations Climate Action Summit held in New York City. Together, those nations have vowed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Hornsea One will also help make strides towards international renewable energy goals, but even more renewable power is needed to reach the goal of zero emissions.

At a time when environmental protection is at its most critical, global efforts are more important than ever to mitigate carbon emissions and conserve resources. Upon completion, Hornsea One will help the world make major strides in reaching its ambitious goals.

Categorised in: Latest Wind Power Industry News - Kurz Wind Division

This post was written by Aaron Rood