First turbine goes up at UK's Gunfleet Sands

DONG Energy has installed the first turbine at its Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm in the Thames Estuary off the east coast of England.

“This is an important step towards our goal of tripling our production of renewable energy by 2020,” said Niels Bergh-Hansen, executive vice president at DONG Energy. “We have only come this far because of the splendid cooperation with The Crown Estate, the Department of Energy and Climate Change and other state and local authorities.”

Set to begin operations in 2010, Gunfleet Sands will have a total energy-generating capacity of 172 megawatts.

“Offshore wind is important to help realize the government’s ambition to dramatically increase the amount of energy from renewable sources,” said Energy and Climate Change Minister Mike O’Brien. “That’s why, from today, offshore wind will get 50 percent more support through our renewable obligation. This will ultimately help in the fight against climate change and further secure the UK’s energy supplies.”