Wind farm's first turbine has record-breaking blades

The first turbine installed at a wind farm being built off the region's coast has set a UK record for the length of its blades, according to a power company.

ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) says the blades measure 115m (377ft), 7m (23ft) longer than any previously used offshore in the UK - and 10m (33ft) longer than a standard Premier League football pitch.

The turbine is the first of 95 to be put in place at the £4bn ($5.3bn) East Anglia Three wind farm, being built 69km (43 miles) off Suffolk.

SPR says a single revolution of one turbine will produce enough electricity to power a home for more than four days, charge about 1,700 mobile phones, or brew nearly 1,000 cups of tea.

The turbines stand about 262m (860ft) tall and have a rotor diameter of 236m (775ft). Work to install the foundations began last year.

SPR says, when complete, East Anglia Three will produce 1.4 gigawatts (GW) of electricity, enough for more than 1.3 million homes.

It is aiming to have East Anglia Three operational in 2026.

Charlie Jordan, SPR chief executive, said: "This is a defining moment as we celebrate and accelerate the deployment of homegrown renewable energy at scale.

"East Anglia Three will be the biggest and most powerful offshore wind farm in our portfolio.

"That means billions of pounds invested in UK and global supply chains; thousands of jobs supported during construction; more than a hundred long-term roles created in the East of England; and greater energy security, with more clean power coming onto the grid than ever before."

The turbines' blades are made by Siemens Gamesa at a factory in Hull.

Darren Davidson, UK Head of Siemens Energy and Siemens Gamesa, said: "These are the biggest blades ever built for a project in UK waters – a real landmark for offshore wind."

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