ScottishPower Renewables and Masdar have installed the first turbine at their East Anglia THREE offshore windfarm, establishing a United Kingdom record for the largest blade size deployed in an offshore wind project. The 115-metre blades, each longer than a Premier League football pitch, were manufactured by Siemens Gamesa and exceed the previous UK record by seven metres, according to a statement issued by ScottishPower Renewables on April 21, 2026. The completed turbine stands around 262 metres tall, higher than the observation deck at the Shard in London.
The 1.4-gigawatt project, valued at £4 billion, is expected to generate sufficient electricity to supply more than 1.3 million homes once fully operational, ScottishPower Renewables reported. All 285 blades for the 95 turbines are being produced at Siemens Gamesa’s facility in Hull. Masdar and Iberdrola achieved financial close for the project in a €5.2 billion deal in July 2025.
Charlie Jordan, chief executive of ScottishPower Renewables, said in the announcement, “This is a defining moment – and a UK industry first – for ScottishPower, Iberdrola and Masdar as we celebrate and accelerate the deployment of homegrown renewable energy at scale.” He noted that the project will support thousands of jobs during construction and create more than a hundred long-term positions in the East of England. Jordan emphasised the collaboration with Masdar as key to advancing the UK’s clean energy objectives.
Husain Al Meer, director of global offshore wind at Masdar, stated, “This is a milestone moment for the UK’s offshore wind sector, with the completion of the first turbine for East Anglia THREE representing a truly monumental achievement.” Al Meer highlighted the partnership with ScottishPower and Iberdrola in contributing to energy security and sustainable growth across Europe. The director pointed to the broader potential for offshore wind in meeting national clean energy targets.
The record blades, which measure seven metres longer than the prior UK benchmark of 108 metres, were produced domestically, a development welcomed by Darren Davidson, UK head of Siemens Energy and Siemens Gamesa. Davidson said, “These are the biggest blades ever built for a project in UK waters – a real landmark for offshore wind.” He added that the Hull factory now employs more than 1,400 people and runs a successful apprenticeship programme to train future workers.
Installation of the turbine was performed by Cadeler’s Wind Osprey vessel, with the newer Wind Pace vessel scheduled to join the campaign later in the month to accelerate the build-out, according to project partners. Mikkel Gleerup, chief executive of Cadeler, said, “We are proud to support ScottishPower Renewables and Masdar on East Anglia THREE – our first project together and a strong starting point for future collaboration.” Gleerup explained that using both vessels in parallel will enhance installation efficiency for the remaining turbines.
