The final turbine has been successfully installed at the Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm off the coast of Scotland, marking a significant milestone in the 450-megawatt project’s development.
The last turbine was erected on Monday morning, according to an announcement posted on the project’s official social media account.
Jointly owned by a subsidiary of EDF Renewables and Irish utility ESB, the NnG wind farm is now entering the final stages of commissioning and is expected to become fully operational by summer 2025.
Positioned in the North Sea, Built for Impact
Located 15.5 kilometres (9.6 miles) off the coast of Fife, the project spans approximately 105 square kilometres across the North Sea. Construction began in earnest with the first turbine installation in July 2023, and the site began producing first power in October 2024.
Now, with all turbines in place, developers will turn their focus to final grid integration, performance testing, and full operational commissioning.
Once live, the facility will produce enough renewable electricity to power 375,000 homes, making it one of the largest offshore wind farms currently under development in the UK.
A Boost to Scotland’s Green Energy Portfolio
Neart na Gaoithe, which translates from Gaelic to “Strength of the Wind,” is a cornerstone in Scotland’s efforts to scale up its offshore wind generation capacity and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
The project contributes to the UK’s broader target of reaching 50 GW of offshore wind by 2030, and forms part of the growing energy corridor in the Firth of Forth region.
Key project highlights:
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Capacity: 450 megawatts
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Turbines: Siemens Gamesa SG 8.0-167 DD
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Location: 15.5 km off Fife coast
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Owners: EDF Renewables UK, ESB (Electricity Supply Board)
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Homes powered: Approx. 375,000
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Construction start (turbines): July 2023
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First power: October 2024
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Full operation target: Summer 2025
Engineering Meets Environment
In addition to its technical scale, the NnG wind farm has been designed with environmental sensitivity in mind. Developers worked closely with Scottish regulators and environmental groups to ensure that turbine placement, seabed anchoring, and cable laying minimized disruption to marine ecosystems.
Once operational, the wind farm is expected to displace more than 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, playing a vital role in Scotland’s net-zero transition.
What Comes Next?
Commissioning teams will now conduct final testing and synchronization with the UK electricity grid, managed via a new onshore substation at Torness in East Lothian. A dedicated operations and maintenance base has already been established in Eyemouth, supporting long-term project logistics.
According to EDF and ESB, full commercial operations are expected by Q3 2025, after which the project will begin supplying power under long-term contracts secured through the UK’s Contract for Difference (CfD) scheme.
