THE world’s largest operational offshore windfarm has opened off the Furness coast.

Walney Extension leapfrogs London Array to become the biggest in existence, with 87 additonal turbines capable of generating enough green energy to power around 600,000 UK homes.

The windfarm has an official opening ceremony in Barrow today.

Matthew Wright, managing director of Ørsted UK, which owns the windfarm, said: “The UK is the global leader in offshore wind and Walney Extension showcases the industry’s incredible success story.

“The project, completed on time and within budget, also marks another important step towards Ørsted’s vision of a world that runs entirely on green energy. We want to ensure that the local community becomes an integral part of the renewable energy revolution that’s happening along its coastline.”

The 659-megawatt project, owned by Danish company Ørsted – the company’s 11th windfarm in the UK - and partners PKA and PFA, covers an area of 145km sq in the Irish Sea.

Utilising the latest technology from two of the world’s leading turbine manufacturers, Walney Extension features 40 MHI Vestas 8MW turbines and a further 47 Siemens Gamesa 7MW turbines.

Construction of Walney Extension was co-ordinated from Ørsted’s West Coast Hub, at the Port of Barrow, which will now become home to the project’s operations and maintenance team.

The completion of the windfarm brings Ørsted’s total capacity operating out of Barrow up to 1.5 gigawatts, which is enough to power more than 1.2 million UK homes. Ørsted’s ongoing operations will support more than 250 direct jobs in the region.

Energy and Clean Growth Minister Claire Perry, said: “As part of our modern Industrial Strategy we’ve set out a further £557 million of funding for new renewable projects, helping to tackle climate change and deliver clean growth to local economies.”

As part of Ørsted’s commitment to the region, a £15million Walney Extension community fund has been set up to support local projects and organisations.

Each year, around £600,000 will be made available for the expected 25-year lifetime of the windfarm, while £100,000 is also ring-fenced annually for a ‘Skills Fund’ to promote education, support local students and increase uptake of STEM subjects for young people.

Ørsted has expanded its apprenticeship scheme to the west coast and has partnered with Furness College to deliver the three-year courses for the next generation of wind turbine technicians.

The leader of Barrow Borough Council, Cllr Dave Pidduck, said: “I think it’s absolutely superb that Ørsted is committed to the area, and things like this are fundamental to the success of our town.

“Myself and the executive director (Phil Huck) went down to the offices in Barrow recently, and two things amazed me: the level of technology that is used to control the windfarm; and the fact that a lot of the people involved were very young.

“This is a fairly new industry to our area, but it is so important. Barrovians tend to be a little matter of fact about the level of technology and industry in the area, and say ‘that’s just what we do’, but it really is first class.”