Siemens Gamesa Selected for 3.1 GW East Anglia Hub Offshore Project

SPR has selected Siemens Gamesa as the preferred bidder to supply and install offshore wind turbines at the GBP 6.5 billion East Anglia Hub.

ScottishPower Renewables (SPR), a part of the Iberdrola Group, has selected Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) as the preferred bidder to supply and install some of the world’s most powerful and productive offshore wind turbines for its GBP 6.5 billion East Anglia Hub programme.

SPR and SGRE have agreed to work together ahead of the next Contracts for Difference auction – scheduled for later this year – to optimise the projects, with the ambition of then signing turbine supply and installation agreements. More than 200 next generation turbines are planned for SPR’s East Anglia ONE North, TWO and THREE projects in the southern North Sea – collectively known as the East Anglia Hub.

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As per the press statement, selecting a preferred bidder at such an early stage in the development of the Hub projects creates the opportunity for SPR and SGRE to develop the turbine design and the Hub programme hand in hand, which will help achieve further efficiencies and maximise local supply chain opportunities.

Jonathan Cole, Offshore Managing Director of Iberdrola Renewables said “offshore wind is now one of the cheapest forms of renewable generation and the approach we’re taking with East Anglia Hub – in conjunction with SGRE – shows just how far the industry has come and how well placed we are to deliver the Government’s 40 GW target for offshore wind within the next decade.

“Taking advantage of the most innovative technology available to ensure East Anglia Hub is home to some of the biggest and most productive turbines on the market would allow us to realise even greater economies of scale, helping to deliver a cleaner and greener future for us all.”

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The hub projects have the potential to deliver more than 7.5 percent of the UK’s 40 GW target for offshore wind generation by 2030 as set out in the Government’s Ten Point Plan. To deliver on the Plan’s ambitions, this year’s Contracts for Difference auction will need to ensure sufficient deployment to put the UK on track to achieve this target.

The potential supply and installation of the East Anglia Hub turbines by SGRE would enable SPR to build on the achievements of East Anglia ONE in terms of jobs and UK supply chain content. East Anglia ONE supported almost 3,500 jobs at the peak of construction and delivered 100 long-term skilled jobs, with more than half the supply chain coming from the UK market. This included SGRE manufacturing turbine blades in the UK and supporting jobs within local ports, including Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.

Andreas Nauen, CEO – SGRE, said the firm is delighted to be partnering with ScottishPower Renewables towards the next CfD auction to potentially construct more world-leading wind power plants, the East Anglia Hub, following the successful completion of the East Anglia ONE project in 2020.

“These projects could be significant for many reasons,  including the input that it will make to both the UK’s National Grid and to employment on the east coast of England. For Siemens Gamesa, the potential deployment of our most innovative offshore wind turbine would enable us to additionally aid the UK government’s plans for the green recovery by delivering clean energy and meaningful employment for years to come.”

The initial 1,400 MW of power to be generated through the Hub projects via East Anglia THREE has secured planning consent. Planning applications for East Anglia ONE North (800 MW) and East Anglia TWO (900 MW) are currently being examined by the UK Planning Inspectorate. Subject to the outcome of the planning considerations, construction of the East Anglia Hub is expected to commence in 2023, with completion in 2026.