The first eight XXL monopile foundations for Scotland’s 1.1 GW Inch Cape offshore wind farm have arrived at the Port of Leith from China’s CNOOD-Wenchong Heavy Industries (CWHI) to begin installation work later this year.
Dispatched on 31 August aboard the COSCO vessel XIAN TAI KOU, the monopiles arrived at the deep-water Charles Hammond Berth in Forth Ports’ renewables hub. Inch Cape is the first project to utilize this facility.
The monopiles, each up to 103 meters long and weighing around 2,300 tonnes, signify the start of major offshore construction for the project. Jan De Nul’s heavy lift vessel Les Alizés will begin installation before the end of 2025, continuing into 2026.
The development includes 54 monopiles, transition pieces, and 18 jacket foundations with three pin piles each. CWHI will deliver 32 XXL monopiles, while Dajin Heavy Industry will provide 24, and COOEC-Fluor (CFHI) will supply the jacket foundations.
Dajin’s first monopiles are also en route to the Port of Leith.
“The arrival of the first monopiles for Inch Cape is a momentous day for our team,” said Derek Knox, Regional Director for Scotland, Forth Ports Limited. “Leith has been transformed into a world-class renewables hub, with new infrastructure and jobs created to support this major project.”
The 1,080 MW Inch Cape will consist of 72 Vestas V236-15.0 MW turbines and an offshore substation installed in the North Sea. A joint venture between ESB and Red Rock Renewables, the project aims to produce its first power in late 2026 and begin full operations in 2027, generating nearly 5 TWh annually to power half of Scotland’s homes.
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Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz