All 54 turbines at the 450 MW Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm have now been installed, marking a major construction milestone for one of Scotland’s flagship renewable energy projects.
Final Turbine Raised at Dawn
The last Siemens Gamesa 8 MW turbine was installed in the early hours of April 7, completing the wind farm’s generating infrastructure. Located 15.5 kilometers off the coast of Fife in the North Sea, NnG now stands fully equipped and ready to transition into final commissioning.
The installation was carried out by Fred. Olsen Windcarrier’s jack-up vessel Brave Tern, which has led the second phase of offshore work since January 2025.
Two Vessels, One Mission
Before Brave Tern took over, the project’s first phase was completed with the help of Blue Tern, which successfully installed 35 turbines and partially completed three more before wrapping up at the end of 2024.
This two-vessel strategy allowed developers to maintain momentum through challenging North Sea conditions and optimize installation windows during Scotland’s volatile winter weather.
Owned by EDF and ESB
The Neart na Gaoithe project is jointly owned by EDF Renewables and ESB, Ireland’s state-owned energy company.
The wind farm first began generating power in October 2024, feeding initial output into the national grid via a subsea export cable that makes landfall at Thorntonloch Beach. From there, an underground cable connects to the onshore grid infrastructure.
Commissioning in Final Stages
With all turbines now in place, the project moves into the last leg of commissioning. Full commercial operations are expected by summer 2025, according to the project’s timeline.
When operational, NnG is projected to supply power to approximately 375,000 homes, helping Scotland edge closer to its net-zero goals and cementing the region’s role in the UK’s offshore wind expansion.
