The 450-megawatt (MW) Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm, jointly developed by EDF Renewables and ESB, is now fully operational, the companies announced on Thursday.
Located approximately 15.5 kilometres off the coast of Fife, the wind farm comprises 54 turbines and is expected to generate enough electricity to power around 375,000 homes annually. The project is also forecast to offset over 400,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
“Today is a really exciting day as we declare one of Scotland’s largest offshore wind farms fully completed,” said Matthias Haag, project director at NnG. “It’s also testament to the extraordinary skills, tenacity and commitment of our project team and business partners who have successfully navigated many complex technical challenges—often in tough Scottish weather and through a global pandemic.”
The wind farm has contributed an estimated £200 million to the economy through contracts with over 50 Scotland-based suppliers during construction. Companies involved include Forth Ports at the Port of Dundee, I&H Brown in Perth, Briggs Marine in Burntisland, and Muir Construction Ltd in Inverkeithing.
The project’s operations and maintenance (O&M) base in Eyemouth, opened in January 2023, will support the wind farm throughout its expected 25-year lifespan. Around 50 skilled jobs are associated with the facility.
First Minister John Swinney visited the Eyemouth O&M base earlier this week to mark the wind farm’s completion. “Offshore wind is one of Scotland’s greatest modern success stories,” Swinney said. “NnG is a shining example of how our priorities of driving economic growth and tackling the climate emergency can work hand in hand to reshape Scotland’s future for the better.”
NnG has also supported local initiatives, awarding sponsorships and grants to over 25 community organisations across the east coast of Scotland over the past three years. A dedicated community benefit fund is set to launch later this summer for residents living near the wind farm and its onshore substation.
“The completion of NnG is a fantastic achievement and is the culmination of years of hard work from many colleagues,” said Matthieu Hue, CEO of EDF Renewables UK and Ireland.
Jim Dollard, ESB’s executive director of generation and trading, added: “Marking the completion of NnG is a significant step in ESB’s progress towards net zero. This project will be an important contributor to reducing carbon emissions from UK electricity generation while also supporting the economy of the east coast of Scotland.
