Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm consists of two phases, Gunfleet Sands 1 and 2. The construction phase for the total project comprising Gunfleet Sands 1 and 2 commenced in September 2008. Commissioning started in 2009, and the wind farm reached full production during the spring of 2010.
The total capacity of the offshore wind farm is 172MW. Gunfleet Sands 1 consists of 30 turbines each of 3.6MW and Gunfleet Sands 2 consists of 18 turbines each with a capacity of 3.6MW.
The total area of the phase 1 development is 10km2 and 7.5km2 for phase 2.
The Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind farm provides clean, renewable electricity to approximately 125,000 households - or more than 20% of the households in Essex in the years to come.
Compared to electricity generated from coal fired power plants carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere will be reduced by approximately 480,000 tonnes for phase 2.
Gunfleet Sands 2 provides clean, renewable electricity to a significant number of households.
After directional drilling work was completed, the onshore cables were installed. Three separate power cables and a small communications cable were laid in a 'trefoil' arrangement, using a combination of open trenching and installation in ducts.
See the following diagrams:
Cable cross section Trench section
