London Array partners award supply and installation contracts

Contracts to the tune of nearly £2 billion have been awarded by the London Array consortium to supply and install components.

Siemens Wind Power will supply 175 turbines while other winners included Future Energy, Nexans Norway AS, Visser & Smit Marine Contracting, Global Marine Systems Limited and JDR Cable Systems.

Frank Mastiaux, chief executive officer of consortium partner Eon Renewables, said: “Signing these contracts is a significant milestone for the London Array project, which will be a vital scheme as we look to take renewables from being a niche power player to being a significant, vital part of the UK's energy landscape.”

Construction of the world's largest offshore wind farm in the Thames Estuary is scheduled to start at the beginning of 2011. It will supply enough power for around 750,000 houses - equivalent to a quarter of Greater London homes - and displace emissions of 1.9m tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.