Since May, over a quarter of the foundations which will support Sofia’s 100 wind turbines have been installed in the North Sea. Once complete, Sofia will cover a staggering 593 sq km, roughly the size of the Isle of Man, being capable of generating enough power for 1.2 million UK homes.
The ambitious project has solidified the North East’s position as a leader in offshore wind, driving £3 billion in investment to the UK’s energy sector and creating numerous local job opportunities.
Matthew Swanwick, project director for the Sofia offshore wind farm, said: “Seeing the first foundations being installed at sea is a hugely symbolic moment in the construction of every wind farm.
“The Sofia project is around fourteen years in the making and the construction phase has around two further years yet to go. Achievements like this make it all worthwhile.
"We are proud to help build an industry that produces sustainable power at best cost to the consumer, while delivering regional economic growth.”
During construction of Sofia, the Port of Tyne has become a strategic base for Van Oord, a leading Dutch renewables firm that is responsible for installing Sofia’s 100 turbine foundations and inter-array cables. Leveraging the Port’s Tyne Clean Energy Park, Van Oord benefits from direct North Sea access for efficient storage and transport of massive turbine components, some of which reach up to 90 metres and weigh over 1,500 tonnes.
Supporting these operations, Aeolus, the tallest offshore installation vessel in history with a 155-metre crane boom, calls at the port regularly to collect components and load provisions.
Matt Beeton, CEO at the Port of Tyne, added: “Since partnering with Van Oord earlier this year, real strides have been made in their construction of Sofia, accelerating the region’s path towards a clean energy future.
“Projects like this are key to achieving the UK’s 2030 clean energy goals, and the North East is perfectly placed to support in the development of these sites, with our direct access to the North Sea.
“It’s why we’ve developed our Tyne Clean Energy Park, which has been earmarked for renewable energy production tenants, while supporting our intentionally ambitious vision for a cleaner, greener future, both for the Port and wider region.”
With Sofia’s scale, the wind farm reinforces the Port of Tyne’s Clean Energy Park as the North Sea’s premier offshore wind platform, primed to handle projects of unparalleled size and significance for the UK’s clean energy future.
