Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm
Also known as the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre.
This project is made up of 11 x 8.8 megawatt Vestas wind turbines and is located just off the coast of Aberdeen.
The turbines were the most powerful in the world when built. Vattenfall employs an Aberdeen based team to look after the turbines. The project started producing electricity in July 2018.
The wind farm has been awarded up to €40 million of European Union funding and is supported by Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group.
In May 2022, Vattenfall was awarded £9.3m in innovation funding from the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio Low Carbon Hydrogen Supply 2 fund, by the UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
The funding will be used to develop the world’s first hydrogen-producing offshore wind turbine, with the electrolyser sited directly onto an existing operational turbine at the EOWDC. This project is in development and it is anticipated that production will begin in 2025.
Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm
Project facts
| Installed capacity | 96.8 Megawatts |
| Annual displace of CO2 | Annually displaces over 134,000 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of removing approximately 35,000 cars from UK roads |
| Average annual homes equivalent | 80,000 homes |
| Annual investment in Community | £150,000 to the Unlock our Future Fund |
€3 million research project reveals how seabirds avoid offshore wind farms
Research using pioneering radar and artificial intelligence technology to track bird flight at the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) at Aberdeen has revealed remarkable insights into the flight behaviour of seabird species. Follow the links to find out more.
About the project
Learn more about Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm by watching this film.
Unlock our Future Fund
Our aim is to continue to benefit the local area. Vattenfall invests £150,000 every year in the Unlock our Future Fund. This annual payment will continue for the life of the wind farm. The fund invests in projects that look to the future and contribute to a climate smarter world.
Apply to the fund
Member of a community group or organisation across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire? Visit Foundation Scotland's website for more information on how to apply to the fund.
The turbine foundations
The foundations at Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm were a world first. They are known as suction bucket jackets and one sits at the base of each of the three legs. This type of foundation uses the sandy seabed to secure it in place. During construction it is lifted onto the seabed. Once in place, the sea water is pumped out of the bucket design. The foundation then becomes anchored in the seabed.
The substation
The energy produced is transported from the turbines to the onshore substation at Blackdog.
Innovation at the wind farm
Vattenfall works with the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult to test new technology at the wind farm.
The environment
€3million has been invested to learn more about offshore wind and the environment. A panel of experts decided which projects should receive funding. The programme funds scientific research in a real-life setting. It is believed to be the largest of its kind.
Socio-economic research
The latest socio-economic research carried out by Oxford Brookes University.
Notices to Mariners
Current Notices to Mariners are displayed here.
See also
The world's first hydrogen-producing turbine, at EOWDC in Aberdeen.
Planning projects to deliver electricity to more than 4m UK homes.
We invest over £3mn into the local communities hosting our wind farm projects each year.