Blyth Offshore Wind Farm

Blyth Offshore Wind Farm was the first in the UK, found 0.5miles off the coast of Blyth. Prior to this there were only two other sites existing in Denmark. 

This pilot project consisted of two Vestas V66 turbines that could each produce 2 MegaWatts (MW) of power. The turbines were fixed in place by sockets drilled into the seabed. 

They were the largest turbines erected in the world at the time and paved the way for future developments. The two original turbines were decommissioned in 2019, with one being recycled and used for spare parts and the other used by the Port of Blyth for training purposes. 

There are now five Vestas 164 8.3MW turbines located 5km offshore at Blyth, these are the first to use float and submerge technology. By creating the Gravity-Base Foundations on Tyneside then floating them along before sinking them it meant that drilling into the seabed wasn't needed for the newer turbines. The bases are created hollow then ballasted with sand to keep them in place. These wind turbines produce enough energy to power around 34,000 households in the UK and have a lifespan of approximately a 25 years. 

There is now also a National Renewable Energy Centre based at Blyth.