World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Is Now Fully Operational In North Sea
Situated 55 miles off the coast of Yorkshire, UK, the Hornsea 2 has officially turned fully operational, claiming the title of the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
It’s so vast that the project itself can generate enough energy to power a whopping 1.3 million homes—the size of the city of Manchester—all on its own.
According to the BBC, this milestone will no doubt add to the country’s increasing switch from fossil fuels to renewables, with the greener alternatives making up 40% of the energy mix in 2021, significantly higher than the 11% a decade ago.
The Hornsea 2 (1.32 GW) took the accolade of the “world’s largest” from its neighbor, the Hornsea 1 (1.2 GW), with its 165 turbines stand at over 200 meters (656 feet) above sea level, and blades 81 meters (265 feet) long.
Even more impressively, a single rotation of the turbines is said to take just six seconds, during which it generates enough energy to power a home for an entire day.
Though it covers an area four and half times the size of Liverpool (178 square miles), it’s expected to be overtaken soon, with larger projects currently under construction in the area.
In fact, the Dogger Bank wind farm, also being built in the North Sea, is expected to power up to six million homes when it comes online next year.
Plus, Ørsted, the firm behind Hornsea 1 and Hornsea 2, is planning on constructing the Hornsea 3, which has just been green-lighted by the British government for its ambitious 2.8 GW plan.
With the winds of change pointing towards the world seeking more eco-friendly alternatives, it’s certain offshore wind farms will grow to become one of the most important source of energy on Earth.
