0 A special purpose vessel (called a
jack-up rig) transports a pile (a type of foundation consisting
of a steel tube) out to the site and a crane swings it upright.
The pile is then hammered into the seabed until only a few
metres stick out above sea level.
1-2 Next a ‘collar’ with an
attached platform is swung out by the crane and fitted onto
the top of the pile where it is firmly bolted on.
3-4 Another boat takes out the turbines
in four pieces: two tower sections, the nacelle (the box containing
the electricity generating parts of the turbine) with two
blades attached and a third blade. These are assembled at
sea. The tower fits inside the pile and the nacelle with attached
blades fits on top.
5-6-7 The turbines are connected together
by a submarine cable that links to an electricity substation
onshore that supplies electricity to the National Grid.
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