{{short description|Offshore wind farm off the coast of Cumbria, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox power station | location = 14km west of Walney Island off the coast of Cumbria | construction_began = 2010 | commissioned = 2011 (phase 1)<br/>March 2012 (phase 2)<br/>September 2018 (extension) | wind_rotor_diameter = 107 m; 120 m; 154 m; 164 m | ps_electrical_capacity = 367 MW (phase 1 and 2)<br />659 MW (extension)<br />1,026 MW (total) }} {{maplink |frame=yes |frame-height=260 |frame-width=380 |frame-lat= 54.0902 |frame-long=-3.6799 |zoom=10 |text=Wind farm layout |from1=Wind turbines Walney 1.map |from2=Wind turbines Walney 2.map |from3=Wind turbines Walney Extension.map }} '''Walney Wind Farms''' are a group of offshore wind farms {{convert|9|mi}} west of Walney Island off the coast of Westmorland and Furness, England, in the Irish Sea. The group, operated by Ørsted<ref name="Fortune">[http://fortune.com/2018/09/06/orsted-worlds-biggest-offshore-wind-farm-walney-extension/ The World's Biggest Offshore Wind Farm Is Here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906220101/http://fortune.com/2018/09/06/orsted-worlds-biggest-offshore-wind-farm-walney-extension/ |date=2018-09-06 }} ''fortune.com'', 6 September 2018. Accessed: 6 September 2018.</ref> (formerly Dong Energy), consists of Walney Phase 1, Phase 2 and the Walney Extension. The extension has a capacity of 659 MW<ref name="guardianworldslargest"/> and it was the world's second largest offshore wind farm in 2018.<ref name=guardianworldslargest>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/06/worlds-largest-offshore-windfarm-opens-cumbrian-coast-walney-extension-brexit|title=World's largest offshore windfarm opens off Cumbrian coast|work=The Guardian|access-date=6 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906072852/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/06/worlds-largest-offshore-windfarm-opens-cumbrian-coast-walney-extension-brexit|archive-date=6 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
The wind farms were developed by Walney (UK) Offshore Windfarms Limited, a partnership between DONG Energy and Scottish and Southern Energy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dongenergy.com/Walney/About_Dongenergy/Pages/Who%20we%20are.aspx|title=DONG Energy Project website|access-date=20 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115122131/http://www.dongenergy.com/Walney/About_Dongenergy/Pages/Who%20we%20are.aspx|archive-date=15 January 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The farms, which are immediately northwest of the West of Duddon Sands Wind Farm and west of Ormonde Wind Farm, are in water depths ranging from 19m to 23m and cover an area of approximately 73 km<sup>2</sup>.
Both of the first phases have 51 turbines giving a nameplate capacity of 367 MW.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.bwea.com/ukwed/offshore.asp | title=UKWED Offshore wind farms | publisher=RenewableUK | access-date=2010-11-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319125548/http://www.bwea.com/ukwed/offshore.asp | archive-date=2011-03-19 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Until September 2012 it was the world's largest operational offshore wind farm, and regained this title when the expansion completed in September 2018.<ref name="Telegraph">[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/9071998/Worlds-biggest-offshore-wind-farm-opens-off-Britain-as-new-minister-admits-high-cost.html World's biggest offshore wind farm opens off Britain as new minister admits high cost] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921114305/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/9071998/Worlds-biggest-offshore-wind-farm-opens-off-Britain-as-new-minister-admits-high-cost.html |date=2013-09-21 }} ''The Telegraph'', 9 February 2012. Accessed: 9 February 2012.</ref><ref name=guardianworldslargest/> The first two phases were expected to generate about 1,300 GW·h/year of electricity, with a load factor of 43%.<ref>[http://www.dongenergy.com/Walney/News/data/Pages/DONGEnergysellsminoritystakeinWalneyOffshoreWindFarm.aspx announcement on Walney Offshore Wind Farm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323013914/http://www.dongenergy.com/Walney/News/data/Pages/DONGEnergysellsminoritystakeinWalneyOffshoreWindFarm.aspx |date=2012-03-23 }} by DONG Energy . Accessed: 14 February 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.4-traders.com/SSE-PLC-4000881/news/SCOTTISH-SOUTHERN-ENERGY-Phase-1-of-Walney-offshore-wind-farm-operational-13703841/ announcement on Walney Offshore Wind Farm] by SSE. Accessed: 14 February 2012.</ref> The Walney Extension opened in September 2018 with a further 87 turbines capable of generating 659 megawatts.<ref name="4c">[https://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/walney-extension-united-kingdom-uk63.html Walney Extension - 4C Offshore] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908092853/https://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/walney-extension-united-kingdom-uk63.html |date=2018-09-08 }}, 30 June 2018. Accessed: 8 September 2018.</ref> And the area reaches 145 km<sup>2</sup>.
==Development phases== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" |- !Phase !! Offshore construction start !! Inaugurated !! Turbines !! Turbine model !! Total capacity (MW) |- |Walney 1<ref name=lorc-walney1>{{cite web |url=http://www.lorc.dk/Knowledge/Offshore-renewables-map/Offshore-site-datasheet/Walney-1-Offshore-Wind-Farm/000050 |title=Datasheet for site: Walney 1 Offshore Wind Farm |publisher=Lindoe Offshore Renewables Center |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326084053/http://www.lorc.dk/Knowledge/Offshore-renewables-map/Offshore-site-datasheet/Walney-1-Offshore-Wind-Farm/000050 |archive-date=26 March 2011}}</ref> || 2010 || 2011 || 51 || Siemens SWT-3.6-107 (3.6 MW) || 183.6 |- |Walney 2<ref name=lorc-walney2>{{cite web |url=http://www.lorc.dk/offshore-wind-farms-map/walney-2 |title=Walney 2 Offshore Wind Farm |publisher=Lindoe Offshore Renewables Center |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502080359/http://www.lorc.dk/offshore-wind-farms-map/walney-2 |archive-date=2 May 2012}}</ref> || March 2011 || March 2012 || 51 || Siemens SWT-3.6-120 (3.6 MW) || 183.6 |- |Walney Extension<ref name=walneyextension-2018>{{cite web |url=https://walneyextension.co.uk/-/media/WWW/Docs/Corp/UK/Walney-extension/180822_Walney-Extension-Project-Summary-V4.ashx?la=en&hash=4F8D0C0F6EE86D9300B36D2DEFB3462DA4A9C419 |title=Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm |publisher=Ørsted |year=2018 |format=pdf |access-date=7 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908092809/https://walneyextension.co.uk/-/media/WWW/Docs/Corp/UK/Walney-extension/180822_Walney-Extension-Project-Summary-V4.ashx?la=en&hash=4F8D0C0F6EE86D9300B36D2DEFB3462DA4A9C419 |archive-date=8 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> || February 2017 || June 2018 || 87 || 40 × MHI-Vestas 8.25 MW &<br />47 × Siemens Gamesa (7 MW) || 659 |- |'''Total''' || || || 189 || || 1026.2 |}
==Construction== In 2004 DONG Energy was awarded a 50-year lease from The Crown Estate to develop a wind farm off Walney Island, as part of the second UK offshore wind farm tendering process known as "Round 2".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dongenergy.com/Walney/About_Walney/History/Pages/History.aspx|title=Walney wind farm project history|access-date=20 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120083843/http://www.dongenergy.com/Walney/About_Walney/History/Pages/History.aspx|archive-date=2011-01-20|url-status=dead}}</ref> The farm was constructed sequentially in two phases with overlapping installation activities to reduce the overall construction timeframe.
The project involved constructing the wind turbines and their foundations, building two offshore substations and installing two undersea power cables, one for each phase, and two short onshore cables to connect to two existing onshore electrical substations for connection into the UK National Grid. A cable was laid by Stemat Spirit. Phase 1 connects to a substation at Heysham and Phase 2 connects to substation at Stanah, south of Fleetwood. Both undersea cables pass close by Barrow Wind Farm. All the construction work was expected to take less than 2 years, with both phases operational by the end of 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dongenergy.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/wind/walney/Walney_Offshore_Windfarm.pdf|title=Walney Project brochure|access-date=20 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710144044/http://www.dongenergy.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/wind/walney/Walney_Offshore_Windfarm.pdf|archive-date=10 July 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> On 11 July 2011 Phase 1 became operational, comprising 51 turbines with an installed capacity of 183.6 MW.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sse.com/Pressreleases/2011/Walney1stPhaseOperational/ |title=SSE - News articles |access-date=2011-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814112309/http://www.sse.com/Pressreleases/2011/Walney1stPhaseOperational/ |archive-date=2011-08-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Its levelised cost has been estimated at £120/MWh.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Aldersey-Williams |first1=John |last2=Broadbent |first2=Ian |last3=Strachan |first3=Peter |title=Better estimates of LCOE from audited accounts – A new methodology with examples from United Kingdom offshore wind and CCGT |journal=Energy Policy |date=2019 |volume=128 |pages=25–35}}</ref>
Walney 2 began sending power to the grid on 1 November 2011. In February 2012, DONG Energy claimed to have installed the 51 turbines in Walney 2 in 5 months and 14 days, including monopiles and complete turbines; about 3.25 days per turbine. Walney 1 took 7 months. The improvement is due to commonality of projects and resources.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120718015115/http://renews.biz/story.php?page_id=70&news_id=1381 Walney opens for business] ''RE News Europe'', 9 February 2012. Accessed: 9 February 2012.</ref> The wind farm was officially opened on 9 February 2012 by the new energy secretary, Ed Davey, MP,<ref name="Telegraph"/> although the last of the 51 turbines in Walney 2 were only activated in April 2012.<ref>[http://www.dongenergy.com/Walney/News/data/Pages/Newsletterno25-April2012.aspx Newsletter no 25 - April 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604230742/http://www.dongenergy.com/Walney/News/data/Pages/Newsletterno25-April2012.aspx |date=2012-06-04 }} ''DONG Energy''. Retrieved: 14 June 2012.</ref>
==Walney Extension== In November 2014 DONG Energy was given development consent for an extension to the Walney offshore wind farm.<ref name="rec1">{{cite news|url=http://www.rechargenews.com/wind/1382947/UK-OK-to-Dongs-660MW-Walney-Extension-offshore-wind|title=UK OK to Dong's 660MW Walney Extension offshore wind|publisher=www.rechargenews.com|date=7 November 2014|access-date=11 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211175557/http://www.rechargenews.com/wind/1382947/UK-OK-to-Dongs-660MW-Walney-Extension-offshore-wind|archive-date=11 February 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The development consent allowed a maximum of 207 turbines to be added to the existing 102 turbines.<ref name="rec1"/> The maximum generating capacity of the extension was said to be 750 MW although DONG was reported to be proceeding with a project based around 660 MW.<ref name="rec1"/> Offshore construction began in 2017, onshore support construction having started in 2015.<ref name=walneyextension-2018/> In 2015 DONG chose the 8 MW Vestas V164 for Phase 1,<ref>Pedersen, Maria Berg Badstue. "[http://www.energy-supply.dk/article/view/149295/dong_vaelger_vestas_supermolle Dong vælger Vestas' supermølle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402110108/http://www.energy-supply.dk/article/view/149295/dong_vaelger_vestas_supermolle |date=2015-04-02 }}" ''Energy-supply'', 18 February 2015.</ref> and the 7 MW Siemens gearless turbine for Phase 2.<ref>Pedersen, Maria Berg Badstue. "[http://www.energy-supply.dk/article/view/163894/siemens_slar_igen_napper_dongordre_med_ny_supermolle Napper Dong-ordre med ny supermølle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402120614/http://www.energy-supply.dk/article/view/163894/siemens_slar_igen_napper_dongordre_med_ny_supermolle |date=2015-04-02 }}" ''Energy-supply'', 12 March 2015.</ref> In April 2018, the final turbine of the 87 installed for Phase 1 was completed, with full operation commencing in September 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/walney/Final-turbines-installed-as-Walney-wind-farm-prepares-to-meet-demand-686dd3cb-5bed-4681-884d-3d2d4a87a97e-ds |title=Final turbines installed as Walney wind farm prepares to meet demand | the Mail |access-date=2018-08-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813004640/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/walney/Final-turbines-installed-as-Walney-wind-farm-prepares-to-meet-demand-686dd3cb-5bed-4681-884d-3d2d4a87a97e-ds |archive-date=2018-08-13 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Incidents== In 2014 a dive vessel, owned by Danish firm Offshore Marine Services, was carrying out routine inspection work when an anchor cable broke and the ship hit one of 102 turbines installed at the Walney Offshore Wind Farm. The UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency surveyed the crash site and reported that a surface sheen stretching 33 feet wide and 0.7 nautical miles long was trailing the vessel. The agency said that, unlike heavier crude oil, the marine engine oil should evaporate or disperse naturally.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.ibtimes.com/oil-spill-offshore-triggered-when-maintenance-ship-hits-wind-turbine-generator-1661220 | title=Oil Spill Offshore Triggered When Maintenance Ship Hits Wind Turbine Generator | work=International Business Times | access-date=2014-09-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908092129/http://www.ibtimes.com/oil-spill-offshore-triggered-when-maintenance-ship-hits-wind-turbine-generator-1661220 | archive-date=2014-09-08 | url-status=live }}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|England|Weather|Renewable energy}} *List of offshore wind farms in the United Kingdom *Wind power in the United Kingdom
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.walneyextension.co.uk/en Walney Extension offshore wind farm Website] *[https://visitcleveleys.co.uk/about/offshore-windfarm Documenting the installation of the landfall cable from WOW2 through the beach at Cleveleys to the substation at Stanah]
{{Wind power in the United Kingdom}} {{North West Power Stations}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Barrow-in-Furness Category:Wind farms in England Category:Round 2 offshore wind farms Category:Offshore wind farms in the Irish Sea Category:2018 establishments in England Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 2018