Masdar and ScottishPower have achieved a major milestone in the UK’s renewable energy sector with the installation of the first turbine at the East Anglia THREE offshore wind farm. This project has set a new UK record by using 115-metre-long blades — the longest ever installed in UK waters, each longer than a Premier League football pitch.

The wind farm will include 95 turbines, and all 285 blades are being manufactured locally at Siemens Gamesa’s facility in Hull, supporting domestic industry and jobs.

Each turbine stands about 262 metres tall, making it higher than the observation deck of The Shard. These advanced 14MW turbines have a rotor diameter of 236 metres, allowing them to generate significant amounts of electricity.

Just one full rotation of a turbine can produce enough power to run a UK home for more than four days. It can also charge around 1,700 mobile phones or brew nearly 1,000 cups of tea.

Charlie Jordan, CEO of ScottishPower Renewables, called this a “defining moment” for the project and highlighted its importance in scaling up clean energy. He said East Anglia THREE will be the largest and most powerful wind farm in their portfolio, bringing billions of pounds in investment, supporting thousands of construction jobs, and creating over 100 long-term roles in the East of England.

Located off the Suffolk coast, the wind farm is expected to supply clean electricity to around 1.3 million UK homes once fully operational. This will significantly strengthen the country’s energy security and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Masdar’s Director of Global Offshore Wind, Husain Al Meer, described the project as a major step forward for the UK’s offshore wind sector. He emphasized the importance of international collaboration in achieving clean energy goals and driving sustainable economic growth.

The turbine installation is being carried out by Cadeler using its Wind Osprey jack-up vessel. Another advanced vessel, Wind Pace, will soon join the operation, improving installation efficiency and speed.

The 115-metre blades used in this project are seven metres longer than the previous UK record of 108 metres, also built by Siemens Gamesa. The company’s Hull factory currently employs over 1,400 people and continues to invest in future workforce development.

East Anglia THREE is set to become one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms, playing a key role in the UK’s transition to clean and reliable energy.