The world’s largest offshore windfarm is about to become operational off the UK coast, with all 165 of its giant 8MW turbines being protected from the ravages of the North Sea by coatings supplied by AkzoNobel - which has a site in Felling, Gateshead.

Located around 89 kilometres off the east coast of England, Hornsea 2 is due to be up and running by mid-2022. It has the capacity to produce more than 1.3 gigawatts of energy – enough to power over 1.3 million homes.

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The foundations of all the turbines (which tower 204 metres above sea level) have been coated with Interzone 954 from the company’s International brand. Originally designed for the demanding protection of offshore oil and gas structures, the product has now also become the go-to solution for offshore wind farms.

“It’s fantastic to be involved in such an ambitious project with this kind of size and scale,” says Simon Parker, Director of AkzoNobel’s Marine and Protective Coatings business.

“As the world moves to a greener and more sustainable future, it’s essential that vital infrastructure isn’t just fit for purpose, but is equipped for the long term as well.

“That’s where Interzone 954 plays such a vital role. It’s one of the industry’s most trusted products for protecting structures operating in the harshest environments. It has more than 30 years of proven performance and has now protected over 2,000 offshore wind assets worldwide.”

Protecting turbines right the first time enables them to continuously operate in the most challenging locations. Offshore wind farms are particularly susceptible to atmospheric corrosion, due to the high humidity and chloride content in the air. The splash zone of each wind turbine – which is intermittently wet and dry due to tides and waves – is the most prone to corrosion.

Interzone 954 has a unique blend of properties, including excellent barrier protection, exceptional abrasion resistance and high film build. It’s also resistant to a wide range of chemicals.

Four years in the planning, the 462 square kilometres Hornsea 2 project follows on from the successful 2021 completion of Hornsea 1 – the previous holder of the world’s biggest offshore wind farm title. Its 174 7MW turbines, also coated by AkzoNobel, already supply power to around a million homes in the UK.