CWHI Cuts First Steel for Inch Cape XXL Monopiles

January 20, 2025, by Adnan Memija

The first cutting and rolling of monopiles, which will be installed at the 1.1 GW Inch Cape offshore wind farm in Scotland, have been completed by CNOOD-Wenchong Heavy Industries (CWHI) in China.

CWHI hosted representatives from Inch Cape Offshore Limited, a joint venture company held equally by Red Rock Power and ESB, at its Qinzhou yard at a ceremony commemorating the first cutting and rolling of monopiles.

CWHI’s scope of work involves the fabrication, commissioning, and shipping of 32 XXL monopiles to the Leith Port in the UK, under an agreement signed with the developer in January 2024.

Each monopile will have an outer diameter of 11.5 metres, a length of up to 110 metres, and a weight of up to 2,700 tonnes.

Fabrication is set to ramp up in the coming weeks at the facility, with the rolling of cans already underway, said CWHI. All monopiles are scheduled for delivery in 2025.

“This project represents a major milestone for CWHI as we deliver our first international monopiles—the largest ever installed in UK waters—from our newly expanded, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in China. It highlights our commitment to advancing renewable energy and supporting global efforts to combat climate change,” said Lay Tao, CWHI’s Deputy General Manager.

Chinese Companies to Supply XXL Monopiles for 1.1 GW Scottish Offshore Wind Farm

Business & Finance

The Inch Cape offshore wind farm will consist of 72 monopiles that will host Vestas’ V236-15.0 MW wind turbines.

The wind turbines will be installed by Denmark’s Cadeler under a contract signed with the project developer in June.

The Inch Cape project site is located in the Scottish North Sea, 15 kilometres off the Angus coast, with the installation harbour based at the Port of Dundee.