Siemens wins first London Array contract

The first contract has been let on what is set to be the world's largest offshore wind farm.

Siemens Transmission and Distribution has been appointed to carry out the onshore electrical design work on the £2bn first phase of the London Array wind farm in the Thames Estuary.

Onshore site work on the project is scheduled to kick off this summer, with offshore work due to begin early in 2011.

The whole undertaking is set for completion during 2012.

The scheme is being promoted by energy firm E.ON, working alongside Dong Energy and Masdar.

The scheme will include the construction of 341 turbines on a 233km² site about 19km from the Kent and Essex coasts.

The London Array is eventually expected to produce 1,000MW of electricity - enough to power 750,000 homes.