Scotland Raises World's Largest Wind Turbine

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) - The world's biggest and most powerful wind turbine has been erected in Scotland by Samsung Heavy Industries Company Limited (SEO:010140)(SHI) (Seoul, South Korea).

The 7-megawatt (MW) turbine, which stands 196 meters tall to the tip of its blades, has been erected for testing in the Firth of Forth, just 50 meters off the shore of Energy Park Fife in Methil, the proposed location for Samsung's next generation turbine manufacturing plant. When commissioned, it will be capable of providing enough power for approximately 4,800 homes.

GRAHAM Construction has been in charge of erecting the massive structure, which will be fully complete by the end of the month.

Deputy project manager, Youngjae Lee of SHI, expects the test programme to start by the end of the year, with type certification of the turbine expected to be completed in the first half of 2014.

"The weather is a critical factor for this complex installation operation, and we are delighted to have had the right conditions to proceed with the tower installation," he explained. "There has been a great deal of activity on-site in preparation for this, and it has been good to see the structure really starting to take shape."

Maggie McGinlay, director of energy and clean technologies at Scottish Enterprise, added: "This along with planned investment from other key players such as Areva and Gamesa is helping to create a potential manufacturing hub on the east coast, which would lead to significant opportunities for our supply chain companies. Today marks a key milestone in this work".

In February, Samsung announced plans to invest up to €120 million ($158 million) to establish its first European wind turbine manufacturing plant in Scotland. The plant at Energy Park Fife will be used to build the 7 MW turbines, which will be officially launched in 2015. For additional information, see February 2, 2012, article - Samsung Picks Scotland for First European Wind Turbine Plant.

Spanish renewable energy major, Gamesa Corporation S.A. (MCE:GAM) (Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain), announced last year that it plans to establish its new global manufacturing operation at the Port of Leith in Edinburgh. With an investment of up to €150 million ($200 million), Gamesa intends to build two plants, one dedicated to producing wind turbine nacelles and blades and the other to port logistics and operations and management services. Up to 800 jobs will be created and construction may start in 2013. For additional information, see March 28, 2012, article - Gamesa Picks Scotland for Global Wind Turbine Plant.

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