First turbine installed at Moray East

Moray East has successfully installed the first turbine, issuing photos of the first of 100 9.5MW turbines in the Moray Firth.

In December, Moray East finished the construction of a jacket-with 100 three-legged steel foundations mounted on the seabed. The turbine components arrived in the Moray Firth, where they were processed and stored onshore. Pre-assembly testing is ongoing at the Global Energy plant in Nigg.

The components of the turbines are mounted onto the construction vessel and taken to the site; the offshore installation, consisting of 5 lifts, will be completed by MHI Vestas and Fred Olsen.

“A turbine is the most iconic representation of the new offshore wind industry, and I am delighted to issue images of Moray East’s first turbine, a proudly towering 200m representation of engineering success against some of the most challenging circumstances the world has known.”  

Moray East’s WTG package manager Ewan Watson.

“This has demanded precision engineering with massive components, requiring excellent co-operation and co-ordination between a range of companies both on land and at sea, and I would like to offer my thanks and congratulations to all those who have made this most distinctive and visible milestone possible.“

Moray East’s head of construction enrique Alvarez Cordobes.

“Moray East is the country’s largest infrastructure project, and a massive amount of effort – represented by tonnes of steel and kilometres of cable – much of this below ground or sea – have been required to get us to this point.

“I am delighted to be able to announce one of the project’s most visible and distinctive milestones – the safe and successful installation of our first wind turbine. This is a truly amazing team effort considering the circumstances under which the teams had to work to achieve that important milestone. The resilience and good co-operation was one of the key factors in achieving this. I am looking forward to see the remaining 99 wind turbines being installed safely and successfully during the forthcoming months and wish to thank all those involved in making this happen.”

Moray East’s project director, Marcel Sunier.