ScottishPower Renewables and Masdar have achieved a major construction milestone at the £4 billion East Anglia THREE offshore wind farm off the coast of Suffolk, completing the installation of all 95 foundations and transition pieces.
The milestone marks a significant step toward delivering one of the United Kingdom’s largest offshore wind projects. The foundations comprise massive steel monopiles weighing between 1,200 and 1,800 tonnes each. Standing up to 84 metres tall and measuring up to 10.6 metres in diameter, the structures are the largest ever installed using a jack-up vessel in Europe.
More than 200,000 tonnes of steel have been installed across the project’s seabed area, covering an area equivalent to nearly 43,000 football pitches. Offshore marine services company Seaway7 carried out the foundation installation campaign using its specialist jack-up vessel, Seaway Ventus. The company has now moved on to installing the project’s inter-array cables.
With foundation installation completed, construction activity is shifting toward turbine installation. Work is currently underway to install 95 wind turbines equipped with 115-metre blades, which are the largest wind turbine blades ever manufactured and deployed in the UK. Onshore and offshore construction activities will continue in the coming months, with the project targeting full operation by the end of 2026.
East Anglia THREE is being developed as a 50:50 joint venture between ScottishPower and Masdar. The project forms part of a wider €15 billion strategic partnership between Masdar and Iberdrola, supporting the expansion of renewable energy capacity across Europe.
Once operational, the 1.4 GW offshore wind farm is expected to generate enough clean electricity to supply more than 1.3 million British homes. The project will contribute to the UK’s renewable energy ambitions while strengthening domestic energy security and supporting rising electricity demand.
The development is also providing significant economic benefits. ScottishPower and Masdar have invested nearly £2 billion in the UK supply chain, including turbine blades manufactured at Siemens Gamesa’s facility in Hull, engineering services from Wood Thilsted and local vessel charters in Norfolk.
During construction, East Anglia THREE is supporting around 2,300 jobs. Once operational, the project is expected to create approximately 100 permanent jobs across the East of England, further strengthening the region’s role in the UK’s growing offshore wind industry.
