Thanet Wind Farm
{{Short description|Wind farm off the coast of Kent, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox power station
| name = Thanet Offshore Wind Farm
| location = Offshore of Thanet district, Kent
| wind_offshore_depth = {{cvt|14|–|23|m}}
| wind_offshore_distance = {{cvt|12|km}}
| ps_electrical_cap_fac = 31.3%
| ps_annual_generation = 821.68 GW·h (2012)
}}
{{maplink
|frame=yes
|frame-height=230
|frame-lat=51.4315
|frame-long=1.6342
|zoom=11
|text=Wind farm layout
|from=Wind turbines Thanet.map
}}
The Thanet Wind Farm (also sometimes called Thanet Offshore Wind Farm){{cite web|url=http://www.warwickenergy.com/offshore/thanet.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306173136/http://www.warwickenergy.com/offshore/thanet.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-03-06|title=Thanet Offshore Wind Project, at Warwick Energy website. Access 14 February 2012.}} is an offshore wind farm {{convert|7|mi}} off the coast of Thanet district in Kent, England. On commissioning it was the world's largest offshore wind farm. It has a nameplate capacity (maximum output) of 300 MW and it cost £780O'Toole, Sarah. [http://www.globalenergymagazine.com/?p=1904 World’s biggest offshore wind farm opens today] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728163959/http://www.globalenergymagazine.com/?p=1904 |date=28 July 2013 }} Global Energy Magazine, 23 September 2010. Retrieved: 29 September 2010.–900 million{{Cite web|title=Thanet Offshore Wind Farm|url=http://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/thanet-united-kingdom-uk29.html|publisher=4C Offshore|access-date=24 February 2013}} (US$1.2–1.4 billion). Thanet is one of fifteen Round 2 wind projects announced by the Crown Estate in January 2004 but the first to be developed. It was officially opened on 23 September 2010,{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/sep/23/british-firms-worlds-biggest-windfarm |title=British firms miss out as world's biggest offshore windfarm opens off UK coast |date=23 September 2010 |work=The Guardian |access-date=23 September 2010 |location=London |first=Terry |last=MacAlister}}Shankleman, Jessica. [http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2270293/uk-opens-worlds-largest UK cuts ribbon on world's largest offshore wind farm] BusinessGreen, 23 September 2010. Retrieved: 23 September 2010. when it overtook Horns Rev 2 as the biggest offshore wind farm in the world. It has since been overtaken by many others (medio 2017 it ranks 14th).
Description
The project covers an area of {{convert|13.5|sqmi}}, with {{convert|500|m}} between turbines and {{convert|800|m}} between the rows. Average water depth is {{convert|14|-|23|m|ft}}. Planning permission for the project was granted on 18 December 2006.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/6188133.stm|title=Offshore wind farms get go-ahead|date=18 December 2006|via=news.bbc.co.uk}} According to Thanet Offshore Wind Ltd, it was expected to be "the largest operational offshore wind farm in the World".http://www.thanetoffshorewind.com/welcome/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=36{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Thanet project has a total capacity of 300 MW which, by yearly average, is sufficient to supply approximately 240,000 homes. It has an estimated generation of 960 GW·h per yearhttp://powerplants.vattenfall.com/node/250 Thanet Offshore Wind Project, at Vattenfall website of electricity, i.e. a projected capacity factor of 36.5% and an average power density of 3.1 W/m2.
In 2012, the yearly production achieved was 821.68 GW·h, i.e. a capacity factor of 31.3%.{{cite web|url= http://www.lorc.dk/offshore-wind-farms-map/thanet?free=thanet |title= Thanet Offshore Wind Farm |website= lorc.dk |access-date= 4 March 2017}}
Two submarine power cables (by Italy-based Prysmian Group) run from an offshore substation within the wind farm connecting to an existing onshore substation in Richborough, Kent, connecting to a world-first two transformers.[http://www.power-technology.com/projects/thanetwindfarm/ Thanet Offshore Wind Farm, Kent, United Kingdom] Power Technology. Retrieved: 29 September 2010. The offshore substation steps up the turbine voltage of 33 kV to 132 kV for the grid.[http://www.vestas.com/en/wind-power-plants/case-studies/thanet-offshore/substation-in-place.aspx Substation in place] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101003133741/http://www.vestas.com/en/wind-power-plants/case-studies/thanet-offshore/substation-in-place.aspx |date=3 October 2010 }} Vestas. Retrieved: 4 September 2010. Maintenance of the turbines is carried out by Vestas, while a separate maintenance agreement with SLP Energy covers the turbines foundations. Turbines are installed by the Danish offshore wind farm services provider A2SEA. The TIV MPI Resolution carried and installed the turbines.[http://www.vestas.com/en/wind-power-plants/case-studies/thanet-offshore/100-turbines-in-less-than-100-days!.aspx 100 turbines in 100 days] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030150554/http://www.vestas.com/en/wind-power-plants/case-studies/thanet-offshore/100-turbines-in-less-than-100-days!.aspx |date=30 October 2013 }} Vestas. Retrieved: 4 September 2010.
Financial structure
The Thanet scheme is project financed. Thanet Offshore Wind Ltd (TOW), the project company was owned by hedge fund Christofferson, Robb & Co. It was purchased from a group of sponsors led by Warwick Energy Ltd.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oilvoice.com/n/Funding_Arrangements_Secured_For_Construction_of_UK_Thanet_Offshore_Wind_Farm/4406f044.aspx|title=OilVoice}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ijonline.com/GenV2/Secured/DisplayArticle.aspx?ArticleID=42975|title=Share capital of Thanet Offshore Wind sold for £32m - News - IJGlobal|website=www.ijonline.com}}
In August 2008 Christofferson, Robb & Co placed the project back on the market.{{cite news| url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/utilities/article4547369.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612075243/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/utilities/article4547369.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=12 June 2011 | location=London | work=The Times | first=Danny | last=Fortson | title=Christofferson Robb hedge fund to sell Thanet windfarm in Kent | date=17 August 2008}} On 10 November 2008, Vattenfall, a Swedish energy company, acquired TOW.{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSLA62270320081110 | work=Reuters | title=UPDATE 1-Vattenfall to build UK's biggest wind farm | date=10 November 2008}}
Development
The development was due to be in place by 2008. Vestas were chosen as the preferred turbine supplier in July 2006, and SLP were chosen as the preferred supplier for the foundations in September 2006. The project was delayed by a number of issues including problems with Vestas who temporarily withdrew their V90 offshore model from the market in 2007 following gearbox problems. The V90-3MW was re-released for sales starting from May 2008.[http://www.vestas.com/files//Filer/EN/Investor/Company_announcements/2008/080218-MFKUK-11.pdf V90-3.0 MW offshore wind turbine back on the market again, Vestas Press Release 18th Feb 2008] {{webarchive|url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090707005200/http://www.vestas.com/files//Filer/EN/Investor/Company_announcements/2008/080218-MFKUK-11.pdf |date=7 July 2009 }}
Vattenfall acquired the project in November 2008. On 28 June 2010, they reported that all turbines had been installed{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20231111100119/http://newenergyfocus.com/do/ecco/view_item?listid=1&listcatid=32&listitemid=4100§ion=Wind Final turbine erected]}} New Energy Focus, 28 June 2010. Retrieved: 18 August 2010. for commissioning due by the end of 2010.{{Cite journal| last1 = Wallace | first1 = J.| last2 = Jackson | first2 = M.| last3 = Rogers | first3 = S.| title = The problem with O&M| journal = Renewable Energy Focus| volume = 9| issue = 7| pages = 22| year = 2009| doi = 10.1016/S1755-0084(09)70032-8| bibcode = 2009REneF...9...22W}} The wind farm was completed in September 2010.
{{cite news
|url = http://www.rechargenews.com/energy/wind/article229361.ece
|title = Vattenfall announces completion of Thanet offshore wind farm
|newspaper = ReCharge
|publisher = NHST Media Group
|first = Matthew
|last = Wolstenholme
|date = 13 September 2010
|access-date = 15 September 2010
|url-status=dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100916212305/http://www.rechargenews.com/energy/wind/article229361.ece
|archive-date = 16 September 2010
|df = dmy-all
}}
[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/09/23/ap/business/main6894020.shtml World's Largest Wind Farm Opens Off UK Coast]{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} CBS News, 23 September 2010[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/09/23/financial/f094239D89.DTL World's largest wind farm opens off UK coast] sfgate.com, 23 September 2010
File:Thames Estuary and Wind Farms from Space NASA with annotations.jpg with Thanet Wind Farm bottom right.]]
Criticism
Since turbine construction makes up the majority of the project cost and the UK has no capacity, much of the work was contracted to foreign companies, resulting in only 20% of the investment going to British firms.{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/sep/23/british-firms-worlds-biggest-windfarm | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Terry | last=MacAlister | title=British firms miss out as world's biggest offshore windfarm opens off UK coast | date=23 September 2010}} There have been calls for the creation of a domestic wind industry.{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11418685 | work=BBC News | title=UK 'needs domestic wind energy industry' | date=27 September 2010}}
An article by climate change denier{{cite news| url = https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/nov/15/real-global-warming-christopher-booker| date = 15 November 2009| title = The Real Global Warming Disaster by Christopher Booker| author = Philip Ball| author-link = Philip Ball| work = The Observer| access-date = 9 January 2014| location=London}} and intelligent design supporter{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1495664/Christopher-Bookers-notebook.html | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Christopher Booker's notebook | date=7 August 2005 | access-date=30 April 2010}} Christopher Booker criticised the subsidy given to develop the project and drew attention to the capacity factor of wind farms.{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/8025148/The-Thanet-wind-farm-will-milk-us-of-billions.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Christopher | last=Booker | title=The Thanet wind farm will milk us of billions | date=25 September 2010}} As of December 2017, Thanet's lifetime capacity factor has been 32.6%.{{cite web| title=UK offshore wind capacity factors|url=http://energynumbers.info/uk-offshore-wind-capacity-factors}} Its levelised cost has been estimated at £159/MWh.{{cite journal |last1=Aldersey-Williams |first1=John |last2=Broadbent |first2=Ian |last3=Strachan |first3=Peter |title=Better estimates of LCOE from audited accounts – A new methodology with examples from United Kingdom offshore wind and CCGT |journal=Energy Policy |date=2019 |volume=128 |pages=25–35|doi=10.1016/j.enpol.2018.12.044 |bibcode=2019EnPol.128...25A |hdl=10059/3298 |s2cid=158158724 |hdl-access=free }}
Extension
In June 2010, the Crown Estate announced that Thanet wind farm could be extended to produce an additional 147 MW.{{Cite web|url=http://www.maritimejournal.com/features/marine-civils/marine-renewable-energy/extensions-for-uk-wind-farms-announced|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120903180504/http://www.maritimejournal.com/features/marine-civils/marine-renewable-energy/extensions-for-uk-wind-farms-announced|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-03|title = Maritime Journal - Extensions for UK wind farms announced}} However, in October 2010, Vattenfall stated that it would not proceed.{{Cite web |url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2010/october/13/wind_farm_plan_blown_off.aspx |title=Thanet wind farm plan blown off course |access-date=14 October 2010 |archive-date=17 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017163412/http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2010/october/13/wind_farm_plan_blown_off.aspx |url-status=dead }}
As of 2017 Vattenfall is working at the option for an extension{{cite web|url=https://corporate.vattenfall.co.uk/about-vattenfall/news-and-media/press-releases/2017/early-plans-for-thanet-wind-farm-extension-to-go-on-show-in-kent/|title=Thanet Extension - Vattenfall|website=corporate.vattenfall.co.uk}}
On 2 June 2020, the DCO for a new cluster of wind turbines off the coast of Thanet was rejected. Business secretary Alok Sharma said the proposal by Vattenfall would not be allowed to proceed.
The proposals would have seen 34 turbines sited 8 km from the shore, which would reportedly generate more power than the existing 100 turbines, which sit 12 km off Foreness Point.
Vattenfall stated in their initial application that the Thanet Extension would allow an expansion to the existing workforce of 75 people.
Danielle Lane, UK country manager for the Scandinavian organisation, said: "Naturally we’re very disappointed by this decision and will consider how we proceed from here.
"We continue to believe that Thanet extension would be an important development for the local area, for UK energy security, and for the drive to reduce emissions."
The extension would have had a capacity of up to 340MW and would be capable of supplying renewable electricity annually to the equivalent of about 282,000 UK homes
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|England|Weather|Renewable energy}}}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Thanet Wind Farm}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20101011113342/http://www.power-technology.com/videos/622195177001.html A video about the inauguration of Thanet offshore wind farm]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100528160707/http://www.vattenfall.co.uk/en/thanet-offshore-wind-farm.htm Vattenfall UK: Thanet Offshore Wind Farm]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk_pPvgN_24 A video by Vattenfall showing turbine assembly process]
- [http://www.lorc.dk/Knowledge/Offshore-renewables-map/Offshore-site-datasheet/Thanet-Offshore-Wind-Farm/000051?free=thanet LORC: Datasheet for Thanet Offshore Wind Farm]
{{Vattenfall}}
{{Wind power in the United Kingdom}}
{{South East powerstations}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Kent
Category:Offshore wind farms in the North Sea
Category:Wind farms in England
Category:Vattenfall wind farms
Category:Power stations in South East England
Category:Round 2 offshore wind farms