Blyth 2 floating offshore wind farm

EDF Renewables plans to build a new wind farm near Blyth off the coast of Northumberland exclusively using and demonstrating innovative floating offshore wind technology.

The project has yet to select the key contractors including the turbine supplier but a range of floating technology options are being considered, with the final design still to be determined by further detailed engineering studies.

In addition, a variation to the Section 36 and Marine Licence is being sought to change the following parameters:

• Include floating foundations (up to 5 semi-submersible or barge type platforms);
• Increased turbine size (four turbines of up to 258 m to tip or five turbines of up to 222 m to tip); and
• Increased individual turbine capacity (up to 14 MW).

The application to vary the Marine Licence and Section 36 consent has already been screened (EIA/2020/00026) by the MMO who concluded in their Opinion (27 November 2020) that the proposed works are screened out of requiring an EIA under the Electricity Works and Marine Works EIA Regulations.