EDF and Fred Olsen cut turbine numbers for Ireland's largest offshore wind farm
EDF and Fred Olsen cut turbine numbers for Ireland's largest offshore wind farm | Windpower Monthly
EDF Renewables and Fred Olsen have decided to reduce the number of turbines at Ireland's largest planned offshore wind farm – their 1.3GW Codling Wind Park – while maintaining its planned capacity.
The developers confirmed the latest 25% reduction in the number of turbines – from a maximum of 100 to 60-75 – on the project's website today (5 April).
This cut is the latest in a series of similar reductions that has seen the developers slash the number of turbines at the project from 440 in their original plans.
EDF and Fred Olsen explained that since they initially drew up plans for Codling, there had been "huge advances in wind turbine technology and more efficient turbine models", while their own understanding of the project site was now "more detailed".
Codling was one of four offshore wind farms to secure a power deal in Ireland's inaugural offshore wind auction last year, which successfully awarded offtake agreements for 3.1GW of offshore wind capacity.
In addition to reducing the planned number of turbines, the developers also proposed the turbines would have a tip height of 288-314 metres.
The Codling Wind Park is planned for a site in Ireland’s Irish Sea, 13-22km off the coast Wicklow.
Ireland is aiming to source 80% of its electricity demand from renewables by the end of the decade and wants to fully decarbonise its energy mix by 2050.
Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: wind
Decades of government support for the development of wind energy has resulted in lower costs and a rapidly growing share of electricity generated by wind turbines. Wind in 2019 accounted for 7.3 percent of electrical generation, surpassing for the first time hydropower at 7.0 percent.