SSE wind farm fully commissioned

StockMarketWire.com - All of the 140 turbines at Greater Gabbard, the 500MW (megawatt) offshore wind farm developed in the Thames Estuary by Greater Gabbard Offshore Winds Limited (GGOWL), a 50-50 joint venture partnership between a subsidiary of SSE (LON:SSE) and RWE npower renewables, have been commissioned and exported electricity.

GGOWL is now responsible for the day-to-day operation of the complete wind farm.

The venture remains in a contractual dispute with Fluor Limited, the principal contractor for the wind farm relating to the quality of up to 52 upper foundations (transition pieces) supporting turbines and the quality of up to 35 lower foundations supporting the same turbines and the ability of the structures to operate for their entire design life. In line with a prudent approach to safety, GGOWL has established a number of risk control measures, including access restrictions, in relation to the 52 foundations to enable these turbines to be able to generate electricity.

This will be (for a short time) the largest offshore wind farm in the world.

Wind power