• 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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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.

Our waters are defiantly NOT that lovely shade of blue!

Where does "the largest wind farm in the world" come from? I visit Mojave, California regularly and from the main street one can see the best part of 4000 turbines on a farm that runs most of the way to Tehachapi. A little bit larger than 217 methinks.

I really don't see the problems that people are having with these! 12 MILES OFFSHORE! how is that an eyesore?! someday we are going to have to accept that this is completely innovative and seriously, how is it doing more harm than good? - steve, all over the world, 17/6/2012 17:25 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Wind power is not "innovative", windmills have been used to make flour since the 13th century at least, and sails to power boats have been around even longer. They were made obsolete by more efficient fossil fuel technology. We are going backwards, not forwards. Its doing more harm than good as we are all paying a fortune to subsidise a form of power generation which makes NO economic sense.

DM, Tell us about the duplicate backup power station capacity kept warmed up and ready to go for the times the wind drops below requirements. Did that cost us another 1.7 billion? How cost efficient is that duplicate effort for the taxpayers and electricity consumers?

Yes only when there is wind or not too much wind.

Perfect place for mussels and oysters to grow, double the use of the area,

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