Irish renewable energy group, Airtricity, has joined forces with engineering group Fluor, to purchase wind turbines valued at €750 million, delivered from Siemens for the construction of its Greater Gabbard Offshore wind farm (GGOW).

The scheme would develop a wind farm which has a capacity of 500 mega watts of electricity, which could power 415,000 homes in the outer Thames Estuary, in the south east of England.

Eddie O’Connor, Airtricity Chief Executive, said signing the deal with Siemens highlights how serious Airtricity and GGOWL are about delivering a sustainable and renewable energy source.

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"There is a global shortage of wind turbines and ever increasing competition to secure their supply.

"In this context, to have landed this agreement is a major coup for Airtricity and GGOWL. Earlier this year GGOW announced that it had received planning permission for the construction of the offshore wind farm which will be located 25kn off the coast of Suffolk in the Outer Thames Estuary."

Mr O’Connor said Airtricity sees the Greater Gabbard wind power station in the context of preparing Britain and Europe for total sustainability in its electricity industry.

He continued: "Airtricity is, along with its partners Flour and now Siemens, creating a learning platform upon which super grid will be built. The super grid is a great venture including wind powered electricity centres and high voltage grids which will render Europe both energy independent and carbon free."

The wind farm, to be situated around the Inner Gabbard and Galloper sandbanks, will be the first UK offshore wind farm to be built outside territorial waters. The construction project will start in the middle of 2009, and is expected to be completed by the close of 2010.

(JM/SP)