Britain’s homes are set to be powered by the world’s largest wind turbines towering 853ft tall with blades that extend 351ft.
The futuristic turbines will be built on Dogger Bank Wind Farms, an artificial island 130km off the coast of Yorkshire in the North Sea.
The turbines will be able to power 4.5 million homes a year – the equivalent to 5 per cent of the UK’s electricity generation.
The Haliade-X turbines – which have been developed by Paris-based company GE Renewable Energy – will be connected by electricity cables to the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Belgium.
Developers say a single turbine can power 16,000 homes, making it one of the most efficient models in the world.
Construction is set to begin in early 2020 with the first electricity to be produced in 2023.
Dogger Bank is set to be the largest wind farm in the world with a combined capacity of 3.6GW.
Paul Cooley of co-developer SSE Renewables said: “Dogger Bank will now be home to the largest offshore wind turbines in the world and this pioneering low carbon technology which will play a central role in helping the UK become carbon neutral by 2050.”
The turbines have been specifically designed for offshore wind production, where constant wind means more energy can be produced at a lower cost.
John Lavelle, president and CEO of the offshore wind arm of GE Renewable Energy, said: “We have an important role to play in the UK’s offshore wind ambitions and in delivering further carbon emission reductions.
“Our Haliade-X technology is helping our customers to make offshore wind a more competitive source of clean and renewable energy.”
