Neart na Gaoithe: First turbine installed at £2bn Fife offshore windfarm which could power 375,000 homes

The first of 54 turbines has been installed in a major offshore windfarm off the Fife coast.

The Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) development, which means ‘strength of the wind’, will generate enough power for around 375,000 homes once it’s fully operational next year.

The £2bn investment is more than ten years in the making – and it’s hoped it will help protect people from rising energy costs.

Matt Haag, NnG project director said: “The windfarm is a 450 megawatt windpark and that is enough energy to power a city like Edinburgh.

“Before we construct the turbines, we had to lay cables that connect the windpark with the onshore side. Onshore we have built another substation.

“All that coming together now with the turbine being put on the foundation being installed there.”

Matt Haag said the development will have enough energy to power the city of Edinburgh

The Scottish Government wants to increase offshore wind production to 11 gigawatts of energy by 2030 – enough to power more than eight million homes.

Once complete, the development will offset more than 400,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year – the equivalent of powering 4.4 million refrigerators.

The towering structures, which are almost as tall as Big Ben, are being assembled at the Port of Dundee.

David Webster, Forth Ports director of energy said: “The towers come in lying flat. These components are then turned upright with a large crane.

“They’re then slotted into the tower stand in three sections until they are full height and then the full interior of these towers are then fitted out with things like service lifts and HV power cabling.

“The towers will be lifted in the upright position and they’ll sail right down the River Tay, past Broughty Ferry with these towering in the air so it’s quite a sight to see.”