The world’s deepest offshore wind turbine has been installed almost 17 miles off the coast as part of Scotland’s biggest offshore windfarm.

The Scottish energy company SSE installed the 2,000-tonne turbine foundation at a depth of more than 58 metres (192ft) in the early hours of Easter Sunday as part of the £3bn Seagreen offshore windfarm.

The installation of the jacket means Seagreen has now topped its own record from October 2022, when a previous foundation was installed at a depth of 57.4 metres (approximately 188 feet). The deepest foundation has been installed at a depth of 58.6 metres.

The significant milestone also marks the installation of the 112th jacket at the 114-wind turbine wind farm which is a £3bn joint venture between SSE Renewables and TotalEnergies.

 Photo: Ken le Grice/Seagreen Wind Energy Ltd

Welcoming the news, Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Graham Stuart said: “This is another terrific milestone for both Scotland and the UK’s world-leading offshore wind industry.”

Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy, Neil Gray MSP said:

“As set out in our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, offshore wind power will play a key role in our energy transition, and the Scottish Government will continue to support the sector to continue to deliver innovative, landmark projects like this – not only generating clean, green energy, but delivering increasing economic benefits across our wider supply chains and communities.”

The Seagreen windfarm is part of SSE’s plan to invest £12.5bn by 2026 in projects that can accelerate the UK’s path towards becoming a net zero economy, the Guardian reported. By the end of the decade SSE, which is developing the world’s largest offshore windfarm at Dogger Bank in the North Sea, plans to invest a total of £24bn in the UK alone.