Installation of the foundations began in early February and was put on hold during the Black Bream spawning season between mid-April and July.
Since then two jack-ups, the MPI Discovery and Pacific Orca, installed the foundations using a 1000-tonne crane.
Transition pieces connecting both foundations and the turbines have also been installed and they sit about 20m above sea level.
E.ON says that in the coming months, its teams will make final preparations to install the turbines, which is scheduled to begin and continue throughout 2017.
Simultaneously, the work of installing offshore cables and substations, the vital infrastructure bringing power onshore, will also commence.
E.ON Development and Rampion offshore wind farm stakeholder manager Chris Tomlinson said: “Despite the adverse weather at the start of the year, the good autumnal weather conditions have enabled us to finish this phase of work ahead of winter, which is testament to the commitment of the construction team.
“We now look forward to starting the turbine installations in the spring, which will see the wind farm really begin to take shape as the 116 turbines are gradually installed throughout next year.”
The wind farm, which is located 13km from the shore in Sussex, is owned by UK Green Investment Bank, Enbridge and E.ON UK.
It features MHI Vestas' V112-3.45MW turbines. Power transmission will take place on high voltage alternating current (HVAC) and the maximum voltage will be limited to 150kV.
It is estimated that this wind farm will generate enough electricity to power more than 280,000 UK households and offset about 572,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and 13,000 tonnes of sulphur dioxide.
Image: Foundation installation completed on schedule at Rampion offshore wind farm. Photo: Courtesy of Matt Banks/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
