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North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm

Coordinates: 53°23′27″N 3°27′09″W / 53.3907°N 3.452454°W / 53.3907; -3.452454
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North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm
North Hoyle wind farm from the air
Map
CountryWales
LocationLiverpool Bay, north east Wales
Coordinates53°23′27″N 3°27′09″W / 53.3907°N 3.452454°W / 53.3907; -3.452454
StatusOperational
Commission date
  • November 2003
Construction cost
  • £80 million
OwnerRWE
OperatorRWE
Wind farm
Type
Distance from shore7.5 km (4.7 mi)
Rotor diameter
  • 80 m (260 ft)
Site area10 km2 (3.9 sq mi)
Power generation
Units operational30 × 2 MW
Make and modelVestas V80 (30)
Nameplate capacity
  • 60 MW
Capacity factor33-36%
External links
CommonsRelated media on Commons
[edit on Wikidata]
Map
Wind farm layout

North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm is Wales' first offshore wind farm, and the UK's first major offshore renewable power project. Situated in Liverpool Bay, it commenced operation in 2003.

The first of the UK's Round 1 offshore wind farms, North Hoyle covers an area of 10 square kilometres (3.9 sq mi), and is located approximately 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi) off the coast of North Wales, between the towns of Rhyl and Prestatyn. The Round 1 projects were intended to act as testbeds; building the UK's understanding of offshore wind power, whilst in total also providing well over 1,000 MW of green generating capacity for the UK. All of the Round 1 offshore wind farms were limited to a maximum area of 10 square kilometres (3.9 sq mi), and no more than 30 wind turbines. It was built using the TIV MPI Resolution, the first jack-up wind turbine installation vessel in the world.

The wind farm's 30 Vestas V80 Offshore wind turbines are each rated at 2 MW capacity, giving a maximum project output of 60 MW.[1] At the time of installation this was the most powerful wind farm in the UK, producing sufficient electricity annually to power 50,000 homes. Between 2004 and 2010, the capacity factor was between 33 and 36%.[2] Its levelised cost has been estimated at £77/MWh.[3]

Independent surveys carried out for the operators of North Hoyle have shown that the wind farm is very popular among holidaymakers and local residents. An opinion poll carried out in 2003, after its construction, showed that 73% of people expressed support for the project and only 5% opposed it.[4]

North Hoyle was developed, built and is operated by RWE npower renewables (formerly National Wind Power); npower renewables also owns the neighbouring Rhyl Flats and Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farms.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "LORC Knowledge - Datasheet for North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm". LORC Knowledge. 14 March 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  2. ^ Dunford et al. UK Renewable Energy Data, Issue 10 p43 Renewable Energy Foundation, 29 July 2010. Accessed: 30 September 2011.
  3. ^ Aldersey-Williams, John; Broadbent, Ian; Strachan, Peter (2019). "Better estimates of LCOE from audited accounts – A new methodology with examples from United Kingdom offshore wind and CCGT". Energy Policy. 128: 25–35. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2018.12.044. hdl:10059/3298.
  4. ^ "npower renewables - North Hoyle press release". Archived from the original on 1 March 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2007.
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