Mega Offshore Wind Farm East Anglia THREE: First Turbine With Record 115-Meter Rotor Blades Installed

London (UK) / Abu Dhabi (UAE) – With the installation of the first turbine at the East Anglia THREE offshore wind farm, the project is setting new standards for the expansion of renewable energy in the United Kingdom. Record-breaking rotor blades and a multi-billion investment volume underline the strategic importance of offshore wind energy for energy security and industrial value creation.

Off the coast of Suffolk, the joint project by Scottish Power Renewables, a subsidiary of the Spanish energy company Iberdrola, and Masdar has installed its first turbine. With rotor blades measuring 115 meters in length and a planned total capacity of 1.4 GW, East Anglia THREE marks a technological and economic milestone for the UK offshore wind industry and its supply chains. On-site operations are managed by Scottish Power Renewables. Together with Masdar, the company is thereby driving forward one of the largest offshore wind projects in the world.

First turbine sets new benchmarks for rotor blade size

With the installation of the first wind turbine at the East Anglia THREE offshore wind farm, a new record has been achieved in the United Kingdom. For the first time, rotor blades measuring 115 meters are being used - the largest ever manufactured and installed in the country. Each blade exceeds the length of a Premier League football pitch.

According to Iberdrola, the Siemens Gamesa SG 14-236 DD turbines have a project-specific capacity of 14.7 MW per unit and reach a total height of around 262 meters. They even surpass well-known structures such as the viewing platform of The Shard in London. The rotor diameter is 236 meters.

With a single rotation, the Siemens Gamesa turbines can theoretically generate enough electricity to supply a British household for more than four days. Alternatively, this corresponds to the energy required to charge around 1,700 mobile phones.

Charlie Jordan, CEO of Scottish Power Renewables, describes the installation as a milestone in industrial policy: “This is a defining moment - and a UK industry first - for ScottishPower, Iberdrola and Masdar as we celebrate and accelerate the deployment of homegrown renewable energy at scale.”

Billion-pound project strengthens supply chains and energy security

East Anglia THREE is an offshore wind project with an investment volume of around four billion pounds. It is being built approximately 69 kilometers off the east coast of England in the southern North Sea and is scheduled to go into operation by the end of 2026.

A total of 95 offshore wind turbines will be installed, achieving a combined capacity of around 1.4 GW. This makes the project one of the largest offshore wind farms in the world. Once completed, it is expected to supply the equivalent of more than 1.3 million British households with electricity.

A key economic aspect is local production: all 285 rotor blades are being manufactured at the Siemens Gamesa factory in Hull. This strengthens British industry and retains significant portions of the value chain domestically.

Jordan emphasizes the economic dimension: “That means billions of pounds invested in UK and global supply chains; thousands of jobs supported during construction; more than a hundred long-term roles created in the East of England; and greater energy security.”

From the perspective of partner Masdar, the project also has strategic importance. Husain Al Meer, Director of Global Offshore Wind, states: “This is a milestone moment for the UK’s offshore wind sector, with the completion of the first turbine for East Anglia THREE representing a truly monumental achievement.”

In addition to power generation, he highlights the role of offshore wind for growth and climate goals: “We see tremendous potential for offshore wind, not just in the UK but across the wider European market, where offshore wind can provide critical energy security, power economic progress and help nations achieve their clean energy objectives.”

About the East Anglia offshore wind complex

The East Anglia THREE offshore wind farm is part of the vast East Anglia offshore wind zone located in the United Kingdom’s exclusive economic zone in the North Sea. Scottish Power Renewables is currently involved in four projects with a combined capacity of over 3,900 MW.

The East Anglia ONE project, a joint venture between Scottish Power Renewables and Macquarie’s Green Investment Group (GIG), has been operational since July 2020. A total of 102 Siemens Gamesa offshore wind turbines, each with 7 MW and a combined capacity of 714 MW, were installed on jacket foundations for this project.

The East Anglia THREE project is fully owned by Scottish Power Renewables. With 95 Siemens Gamesa SG 14-236 DD turbines, it will reach a total capacity of around 1,400 MW. Onshore construction activities began in 2022, and turbine installation is currently underway.

The East Anglia TWO and East Anglia ONE North projects are still in the planning phase and were both approved in March 2022. Scottish Power Renewables also plans to install Siemens Gamesa SG 14-236 DD turbines in the East Anglia TWO project, with 64 turbines and a total capacity of up to 960 MW. In the East Anglia ONE North project, up to 67 wind turbines with a total capacity of up to 900 MW could be built, according to Scottish Power Renewables.

Source: IWR Online, 22 Apr 2026