Fabrication Begins on £60M+ Offshore Wind Foundation Project in North-East
- Safer Highways
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Work has commenced in the North-East on a major offshore wind component, as ScottishPower Renewables moves forward with fabrication of a substation foundation for its £4bn East Anglia TWO project.
The steel cutting marks the start of construction at Smulders’ facility on the River Tyne, where a 3,450-tonne jacket foundation is being manufactured under a contract valued at more than £60M. The structure will support an offshore high-voltage substation for the windfarm, which is being developed off the Suffolk coast.
Once complete, the four-legged lattice jacket will stand approximately 58 metres tall and will form the base for a 5,100-tonne substation platform. This infrastructure will play a key role in collecting electricity generated by the windfarm’s 64 turbines and transmitting it to the UK grid.
East Anglia TWO is expected to have a generating capacity of up to 960MW, supplying electricity equivalent to the needs of nearly one million homes. The project is part of ScottishPower Renewables’ wider offshore wind portfolio in the region.
UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks visited the site as fabrication began, highlighting the role of such projects in supporting domestic manufacturing and employment. He noted that the work demonstrates the contribution of clean energy investment to industrial activity in the North-East.
ScottishPower Renewables CEO Charlie Jordan described the start of fabrication as an important milestone, pointing to the benefits for UK supply chains and regional economic activity. He also emphasised the company’s broader investment in offshore wind, which has channelled significant spending into UK businesses.
The Smulders facility at Wallsend, where the structure is being built, is located on a former colliery site and now specialises in offshore wind foundations. Since 2023, the company has invested over £80M in expanding its UK operations, with around 400 people currently working on site, including apprentices.
The jacket foundation is being produced alongside other elements of the substation, with additional work taking place at Smulders’ facilities in the Netherlands. According to the company, teams across both locations are collaborating to deliver the project safely and efficiently.
Installation of the foundation is scheduled for the third quarter of 2027, with the windfarm expected to become operational by the end of 2028.
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