Phase 1 of £1bn offshore windfarm on tap

SCOTTISH & Southern Energy yesterday said the first phase of the £1 billion Walney offshore windfarm in the Irish Sea has begun operating.

A total of 51 turbines have completed commissioning tests and Perth-based SSE, which has a 25.1 per cent stake in the venture, said the progress meant it had now added 46 megawatts to its total electricity generation capacity.

Construction of the second phase of the wind farm is well under way with 18 turbines already installed.

Colin Hood, SSE's chief operating officer, said: "This is an important milestone in SSE's programme of investment in large capital projects and a significant addition to the company's asset base. With good progress also being made on phase two of Walney, I am confident that the wind farm as a whole will be commissioned as planned next year."

Danish utility group Dong Energy owns 50.1 per cent of the project with a consortium of pension and equity funds owning the remaining balance.

Last month, SSE said the first turbine at its Clyde onshore wind farm being constructed in South Lanarkshire had also begun generating electricity.

The first of its three sections should be completed around the time of SSE's interim results in November and the wind farm as a whole should be completed in 2012. Shares in SSE closed down 6p at 1,407p.