How many wind turbines are installed and what will be the output of the wind farm?
The wind farm consists of 25 turbines, yielding a total capacity of 90MW. The turbines are expected to produce an annual output of 315,000,000 kilowatt-hours, corresponding to the consumption of 80,000 British households.

Can the wind farm be seen from onshore?
Yes. However the visual impact is reduced as the wind farm is located approximately 7km off shore. It is situated on the Burbo Flats in Liverpool Bay at the entrance to the Rivery Mersey, approximately 6.4km (4.0 miles) from the Sefton coastline and 7.2km (4.5 miles) from North Wirral.

Why was Burbo Bank chosen as a suitable site?
The location was chosen for a number of reasons:

• Good average wind speed
• Shallow water depth
• No perceived environmental issues
• Good seabed conditions for foundations
• Close to an onshore electricity connection
• Within Port Authority jurisdiction (for safety reasons)
• Local familiarity with wind power - Seaforth Docks Wind Farm
  

Will the turbines be noisy?
No. Due to technological advancements modern wind turbines are very quiet and any sound produced by the wind turbines during operation will not normally be audible from any land location.

Why is offshore wind such a good idea?
Wind turbines harness the immense power of the wind to produce clean and green electricity, with no waste products or environmentally damaging emissions, from a resource that will never run out. The UK is Europe’s windiest country and is estimated to have at least one third of the entire European Union wind resource.

Placing wind turbines offshore only increases the environmental gains as the turbines can produce an energy output which is up to 25% higher than for comparable turbines onshore.

What are the environmental benefits?
The wind farm will contribute to tackling the issue of climate change. It is estimated that over the 20-year operating life of the wind farm, the savings amount to 6.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, together with significant amounts of other greenhouse gases.

Where does the cable come ashore?
Electric cables buried under the seabed connect the wind turbines to the land. Onshore, these cables travel a further 3.5 km underground, following existing roads, to a substation at Wallasey. This substation steps up the electricity from internal wind farm voltage (33kV) to 132kV so that it can be fed into the national electricity grid.

What happens when the wind stops blowing?
When the wind stops blowing, electricity continues to be provided by other forms of generation, such as gas or coal-fired power plants. The electricity system is mostly made up of large power plants, and the system has to be able to cope if one of these goes out of action.

How long do wind turbines last?
A wind turbine typically lasts around 20-25 years. During this time, as with a car, some parts may need replacing. The very first of the mass-produced turbines celebrated its 20th birthday in May 2000. The Vestas 30kW machine has operated steadily throughout its lifetime, with none of the major components needing to be replaced.

Are there any other offshore wind farms in the area?
See DONG Energy's wind farms in the UK.

Other wind farms in the area either operating or under their way are North Hoyle, Rhyl Flats and Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farms. They are all owned by npower.