DUBBED the ‘most innovative commercial wind farm in the world’, a new scheme to provide renewable energy off the coast of Barrow will be officially launched next week.

The 30 turbine, 150MW Vattenfall Ormonde Offshore Wind Farm will be inaugurated during a ceremony on Wednesday with Vattenfall’s president and CEO Øystein Løseth and guest of honour John Woodcock, MP for Furness.

The wind farm is now fully constructed in the Irish Sea, 10km off Barrow-In-Furness, and will supply enough electricity to supply 100,000 homes. Vattenfall expects Ormonde Offshore Wind Farm to generate more than 500 gigawatt hours of green electricity every year, which is the equivalent to the total annual electricity needs of more than 100,000 UK households. The turbines cover an area of 8.7km2.

Offshore construction work began in May 2010 and is now completed, with turbines being commissioned as weather conditions allow.

The project has helped to secure many jobs, including work for local contractors, such as the Neil Martin Group and Agrilek, of Barrow, RG Parkins, of Kendal, and Askam Construction, of Lancaster.

An environmental monitoring programme was carried out prior to, during and following the construction works of the wind farm.

Vattenfall's Steve Andrews, site manager for the Ormonde Offshore Wind Farm, said: "We are looking forward to the official inauguration of the Ormonde Offshore Wind Farm next week and celebrating one of the world's most technologically advanced wind farms in Barrow.

"The fact that the port of Barrow is home to the wind farm's operations and maintenance base is good news for the growth of skilled, low-carbon jobs in the region and its wider economic regeneration."