The installation of a tower for Samsung Heavy Industries' (SHI) Prototype Offshore Wind Turbine is nearing completion in Fife.

The operation to install the two-piece steel structure has been taking place over recent days, 50m offshore from Methil's Energy Park Fife.

Once fully assembled and operational, the three blade, 7MW prototype turbine will be the world's largest and most powerful installed turbine, with the tip of its blades 196m above sea level and a nacelle height of 110m, the council has said.

SHI hope the turbine, which will create enough energy to power 4,800 homes, will be operational by the end of this year.

Following a testing period, the company hopes to attract orders which will allow it to build a manufacturing facility at Energy Park Fife.

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Youngjae Lee, deputy project manager with SHI, said: "The weather is a critical factor for this complex operation and we are delighted to have had the right conditions to proceed with the tower installation.

"There has been a great deal of activity on-site in preparation for this and it is has been good to see the structure really starting to take shape. We are looking forward to continuing with this steady progress, completing the construction of the turbine and getting testing under way."

The structure is being constructed by GRAHAM Construction, the principal contractors on the project. In preparation for the current operation, large diameter seabed piles were installed, followed by the turbine's steel jacket and transition piece.

Both the jacket and transition piece were fabricated in Glasgow and transported to the site on separate barges during a five-day sea journey around the tip of Scotland.

Jonny Kerr, Project Manager at GRAHAM Construction added: "The installation of the tower sections at the end of last week see another significant milestone for the project. People can now see the structure taking shape offshore.

"Despite challenging weather conditions, the works have gone to schedule with the jacket and transition piece having been successfully installed. The nacelle and blades are both on site awaiting erection.

"The final stages of the construction will see the nacelle and rotor blades fitted ahead of a handover to the SHI team later this month."

(JP/CD)