Vattenfall, one of the leading European energy companies, has officially opened the world’s largest offshore wind farm. The Thanet Offshore Wind Farm, located off England’s south east coast, has 100 turbines and will generate electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of over 200,000 British households.
To Vattenfall wind power is an important part of the energy mix. Between 2009 and 2011, the company will double its wind power electricity generation, constructing nine wind farms in six countries to supply electricity equivalent to the demand of 800,000 households annually.
Thanet is so far the company’s largest offshore wind farm and a significant investment in renewable energy generation. The electricity generated from the English Channel winds will constitute a significant increase of green energy in the UK and a considerable contribution to Vattenfall’s efforts to decrease the amount of carbon dioxide emissions from its electricity generation.
The construction of the 300 MW Thanet Offshore Wind Farm has taken just over two years and the wind farm is expected to operate for at least 25 years. At 300MW, it is the largest offshore wind farm in the world. Each turbine is up to 115 metres tall at its highest point. The wind farm covers an area of 35 square kilometres.