Wind farm resumes operations

After experiencing hiccups Scroby Sands wind farm in Norfolk is on the mend. The wind farm is the second one in the United Kingdom to have been developed offshore. The wind farm is operated by E.ON.

The wind farm has been experiencing technical problems since it was commissioned three years ago in 2005. In 2007 alone the wind farm which is off the Yarmouth coast and which comprises of thirty wind energy turbines produced 145,201 megawatt hours of electricity. This was the equivalent of the energy consumption of thirty nine thousand households in Yarmouth on a daily basis. Though this is considered to be significant it is still 3.1 per cent below what had been projected. In 2006 the power generated was 129,053 megawatt hours and this year is expected to record an increase.

Having resolved the technical problems that had plagued the wind farm for long has resulted in significant savings in operating costs. The financial results of 2007 indicated that the costs have come down by as much as one hundred and fifty thousand sterling pounds.

To resolve the technical problems that had beset the wind farm, E.ON took the step of replacing all the original generators of the wind farm. Also all the worn gearboxes were replaced. All the repair work on the wind farm this time round was fast and efficient compared to other times before.

How E.ON has handled the challenge of offshore wind energy technical problems could serve as blueprint for other offshore wind farm operators who are going to come onto the scene after the government announced a ten billion sterling pound scheme for generation of electricity from renewable sources.