Thanet Offshore Wind Project
| Thanet Offshore Wind Farm | |
|---|---|
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 Location of Thanet Offshore Wind Farm in England
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| Country | England, United Kingdom |
| Location | Offshore of Thanet district, Kent |
| Coordinates | 51°25′50″N 1°37′59″E / 51.4306°N 1.6331°ECoordinates: 51°25′50″N 1°37′59″E / 51.4306°N 1.6331°E |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | 23 September 2010 |
| Operator(s) | Vattenfall |
| Wind farm | |
| Type | Offshore |
| Max. water depth | 14–23 m (46–75 ft) |
| Distance from shore | 12 km (7.5 mi) |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 100 × 3 MW |
| Make and model | Vestas Wind Systems: V90-3MW |
| Nameplate capacity | 300 MW |
| Capacity factor | 31.3% |
| 2012 gross output | 821.68 GW·h |
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Website http://www.vattenfall.co.uk/en/thanet-offshore-wind-farm.htm |
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The Thanet Wind Farm (also sometimes called Thanet Offshore Wind Farm) is an offshore wind farm 7 miles (11 km) off the coast of Thanet district in Kent, England. It is the world's third largest offshore wind farm, as of June 2013[update], the largest being the London Array, followed by Walney Wind Farm. It has a nameplate capacity (maximum output) of 300 MW and it cost £780–900 million (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, when it overtook Horns Rev 2 as the biggest offshore wind farm in the world. It has since been overtaken by Walney.
The project covers an area of 13.5 square miles (35 km2), with 500 metres (1,600 ft) between turbines and 800 metres (2,600 ft) between the rows. Average water depth is 14–23 metres (46–75 ft). Planning permission for the project was granted on 18 December 2006. According to Thanet Offshore Wind Ltd, it was expected to be "the largest operational offshore wind farm in the World". 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 year 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%.
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. The offshore substation steps up the turbine voltage of 33 kV to 132 kV for the grid. 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.
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