ALL 116 of the turbines at the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm development are now functioning.

The turbines are able to generate electricity and are delivering power to the grid.

Over the coming months, work will continue both on and offshore to prepare the site for full operation later this year.

Matthew Swanwick, project director for the wind farm, said: “We’re delighted to have now reached the point where all of the wind turbines are up and running and contributing yet more clean power, adding to the UK’s growing renewables fleet and its ability to help meet the UK’s energy needs.

“We still have a number of activities to complete, for example at the onshore and offshore substations and landfall, so people will continue to still see ongoing activities offshore and onshore over the coming months.

“Full reinstatement of the onshore cable route back to its former condition is another top priority for us this year.”

The commissioning of the wind turbines marks a significant milestone in the project, which commenced offshore construction in early 2016.

This brings the scheme up to its maximum generating capacity of 400MW, which will provide enough electricity to supply almost 347,000 homes a year, equivalent to around half the homes in the county.

The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm is being built 13km off the Sussex coast by E.ON, Canadian energy infrastructure company Enbridge and a consortium comprising of the Green Investment Group, Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 5 and the Universities Superannuation Scheme.

The team took six months to fully install the group of turbines, which are 80 metres high and are located eight miles off the coast.

After beginning work in early March last year, crews were situated on two vessels used for the project for the remainder of this time to complete the installation.

The two vessels used by workers were the MPI Discovery and MPI Adventure.

Both vessels were used for numerous journeys to carry the 200 tonne turbines from Denmark back to the site where the wind farm is based, carrying only eight turbines at a time.

The project is due to be completed and fully operational later this year.

The wind farm is expected to be able to generate enough power to supply 347,000 homes a year once complete.

Further details about the project, including key facts and news updates, plus a photo and a video gallery can be found at rampionoffshore.com