• When complete, the 1.7 billion project in the Thames Estuary will boast 217 turbines
  • It will be able to generate enough electricity for 750,000 homes
  • Set to be connected to the National Grid next spring

By Chris Richards

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When fully operational, it will be the world's largest offshore wind farm - and, as these pictures show, work on the project in the Thames Estuary is moving along at quite a pace.

The wind farm, which is being built in the shallow waters 12 miles off the coasts of Kent and Essex, which, when complete will feature 217 turbines that will be able to supply enough electricity to power a quarter of London's homes.

The 1.7 billion wind farm, known as the London Array, is owned by the utility companies E.ON, Dong Energy and Masdar and is expected to start sending energy to the National Grid next spring.

The first phase of the project will generate 630 megawatts of power - equivalent to a small gas or coal fired power station and enough to supply 470,000 homes.

Corridors of power: When complete, the London Array wind farm will be the largest in the world

Corridors of power: When complete, the London Array wind farm will be the largest in the world

Vast: The 1.7 billion London Array wind farm will feature 217 turbines when complete

Vast: The 1.7 billion London Array wind farm will feature 217 turbines when complete

The second phase will bring the total to 217 turbines, each towering 147 metres above the estuary, giving 1000 mw of power, enough for 750,000 homes.

Work on the project began in January.

It was originally given the go-ahead in May 2009.

At present, the world's largest offshore wind farm is the 102-turbine Walney project, located off the coast of Cumbria.

The Walney project is capable of providing sufficient electricity for about 320,000 homes.

Work in progress: Construction work takes place on one of the wind turbines in the Thames Estuary

Work in progress: Construction work takes place on one of the wind turbines in the Thames Estuary

Estuarine energy: The turbines, in the Thames Estuary, will eventually be able to generate enough electricity for 750,000 homes

Estuarine energy: The turbines, in the Thames Estuary, will eventually be able to generate enough electricity for 750,000 homes

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

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Ugly, costly and inefficient !!!

Anon, Chesterfield: I agree. It would be lovely if they were. (Btw, hope you don't mind, but the word is definitely - not defiantly). ;o)

'World's largest wind farm' with 217 turbines that can power homes for 750,000 homes takes shape off the coast of Essex Power homes for 750,000 homes? Might be nice if your headline at least made sense!

Our waters are defiantly NOT that lovely shade of blue! - Anon, Chesterfield, 17/6/2012 20:44 Yes they are ! its depends where the light is coming from an where looking at it from!

If it's not windy enough they'll be useless and when it's too windy they will blow up! Useful....

Using windmills takes energy from the atmosphere and causes cooling which results in mini ice ages as that endured by the world following the advent of windmills for various purposes throughout history. it is already happening and will get worse unless these dangerous eyesores are taken down and their extremely expensive rare earth elements put to proper use

Our waters are defiantly NOT that lovely shade of blue! - Anon, Chesterfield, 17/6/2012 20:44 lol I was thinking the same! I edited a beach photo for my photography final on photoshop to this lovely shade of blue.

Oh No!!! where will Boris put his airport now?

This project cannot be cost effctive 1`7 billion to power 750,000 homes?? if this cash was spent on solar panels you could put panels on half the homes in the UK all extra power would make power cheaper for the rest of the country ? BUT thats not what this is about ! EONand the like are about to ripp us off big time and this cr..p government smile and look on like nodding dogs saying whats in it for me more swill of the pigs please.......

For 90% of the time these can't generate (too much wind, too little wind, wrong type of wind, that time of the month) you have to run conventional fossil fuelled power stations The sooner someone with the clout to stop the scourge of wind turbines and other greenwash hyped up solutions the better.. So will someone please wake up, smell the coffee and start building a nuclear power station (or even half a dozen of them) right next to me as I don't want the lights to go out and I don't want our energy future dictated to by a bunch of environmentalists that are by far the biggest threat to life on earth.

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