Energy and Climate Change Minister Lord Bourne has hailed the opening of the Westermost Rough offshore wind farm.
Lord Bourne said:
"Westermost Rough will generate enough clean electricity to power over 150,000 homes and has brought significant new investment into the Grimsby area.
"It will play an important role in helping us secure an energy mix for families and businesses across the country that is diverse and home grown, once again demonstrating that there really is no better place in the world to invest in offshore wind."
Westermost Rough has been officially opened at a ceremony in Grimsby today.
The offshore wind farm is capable of generating up to 210 megawatts (MW) of electricity – enough to meet the annual electricity demands of well over 150,000 UK homes. It is the first offshore wind farm to make commercial use of 6MW wind turbines with 75 metre blades. Each of the 35 turbines in use is taller than the Humber Bridge.
Westermost Rough is a joint venture between DONG Energy (50%) and its partners Marubeni Corporation (25%) and the UK Green Investment Bank plc (25%).
Westermost Rough is located 8 kilometres (km) from the Holderness coast, approximately 25km north of Spurn Head at the River Humber estuary. Cables bring the power ashore on the Holderness Coast north of Withernsea and into the national grid at the Westermost Rough onshore substation on Staithes Road, Hedon outside Hull.