First power at Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm
Electricity has been generated for the first time at DONG Energy's Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm, located off the North Norfolk coast.
With the initial turbines installed, power from the first turbine is now being exported to the national grid.
Race Bank will consist of 91 Siemens 6 megawatt (MW) turbines in total, including the first ever wind turbine blades manufactured at the Siemens blade factory in Hull which are expected to be installed later in the year.
Approximately two thirds (around 180) of the blades at Race Bank will come from the Siemens facility in Hull.
Klaus Skoust Møller, Race Bank Programme Director at DONG Energy, said:
"I'm delighted we've reached first power at Race Bank, which is an important milestone that proves every part of the transmission and generation equipment at the wind farm is successfully working. Construction is progressing well and on schedule.
"It will be great to see the first blades from Hull loaded out and installed on the remaining turbines in the coming weeks as well."
Once all 91 turbines are installed, Race Bank will be capable of generating 573 MW of electricity – enough capacity to meet the annual electricity demands of over half a million UK homes.
Construction of Race Bank is being managed from DONG Energy's construction base in the Grimsby Fish Docks.
Last year, DONG Energy announced plans for a GBP multi-million investment in Grimsby to create the UK's largest offshore wind operations and maintenance hub, which will serve Race Bank once it becomes operational.
Facts about Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm:
- Owned by DONG Energy (50%), Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 5 (25%), Macquarie Capital (12.5%) and Sumitomo Corporation (12.5%
- Located approximately 16.8 miles off Blakeney Point on the North Norfolk coast and 17.4 miles off the Lincolnshire coast at Chapel St Leonards
- Covers a total area of 75km2
- Consists of 91 Siemens 6 MW turbines
- Total capacity of 573 MW, producing enough electricity to power over half a million UK homes annually
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Notes to Editors
About DONG Energy:
DONG Energy (NASDAQ OMX: DENERG) is one of Northern Europe's leading energy groups and is headquartered in Denmark. Around 6,200 ambitious employees, including over 850 in the UK, develop, construct and operate offshore wind farms, generate power and heat from our power stations as well as supply and trade in energy to wholesale, business and residential customers. In addition, we produce oil and gas, and a process has been initiated to divest this business unit. The continuing part of the Group has approximately 5,800 employees and generated a revenue in 2016 of DKK 61 billion (EUR 8.2 billion). For further information, see www.dongenergy.co.uk or follow us @DONGEnergyUK on Twitter.
About Macquarie:
Macquarie Group Limited (Macquarie) is a diversified financial group providing clients with asset management and finance, banking, advisory and risk and capital solutions across debt, equity and commodities. Macquarie has been an active investor and adviser in the renewable energy and clean technology sectors for over 15 years. Drawing on its global network, sector expertise and strong record, Macquarie is supporting the transition to a lower carbon economy by servicing clients across various renewable energy technologies. Since 2010 Macquarie and Macquarie-managed funds have invested or arranged over £8.5 billion of capital into renewable projects globally.
Founded in 1969, Macquarie employs more than 13,500 people in over 27 countries. At 31 March 2017, Macquarie had assets under management of £294 billion. For further information on Macquarie's renewable energy activities, visit http://www.macquarie.com/renewables.
About Macquarie Capital:
Macquarie Capital is the advisory, capital markets and principal investment arm of Macquarie Group. Macquarie Capital provides strategic M&A and capital raising advice as well as partnering with clients by investing capital into their projects and companies. Globally Macquarie Capital focuses on six core sectors: infrastructure, utilities and renewables; real estate; telecommunications, media, entertainment and technology; resources; industrials; and financial institutions, with 417 transactions completed, valued at £93 billion in the year to 31 March 2017. In Europe, Macquarie Capital has a strong track record in partnering with utilities and developers in building new energy, infrastructure and real estate projects.
About Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 5 (MEIF5):
MEIF5 is a €4 billion Euro denominated fund focused on investment opportunities in utilities, transportation, communications infrastructure and renewable energy throughout Europe and is managed by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA). MIRA is part of Macquarie Asset Management, the asset management arm of Macquarie. MIRA pioneered infrastructure as a new asset class for institutional investors. For more than 20 years we have been investing in and managing the assets that people use every day – extending beyond Infrastructure to Real Estate, Agriculture and Energy. Our dedicated operational and financial experts work where MIRA's funds invest and their portfolio companies operate. They are part of a far reaching global team which helps clients to see across the regions and deep into local markets. MIRA has assets under management of £94.1 billion invested in 129 portfolio businesses, ~300 properties and 4.5m hectares of farmland.*
(*figures as at 31 March 2017)
About Sumitomo Corporation:
Sumitomo Corporation ("SC") is a leading Fortune 500 global trading and business investment company with 109 locations in 66 countries and 22 locations in Japan. The entire SC Group consists of more than 800 companies and nearly 70,000 personnel. SC conducts commodity transactions in all industries utilizing worldwide networks, provides related customers with various financing, serves as an organizer and a coordinator for various projects, and invests in companies to promote greater growth potential. SC's core business areas include Metal Products, Transportation and Construction Systems, Environment and Infrastructure, Media, Network, Lifestyle Related Goods and Services, Mineral Resources, Energy, and Chemical and Electronics.
For further information, see http://www.sumitomocorp.co.jp/english/