AN offshore wind turbine manufacturer has started to supply sections of the Humber Gateway wind farm.

TAG Energy Solutions has shipped four 60-metre long, 650 tonne monopile foundations and four transition pieces, down the River Tees destined for the wind farm, which is situated 8km off the Yorkshire Coast close to the mouth of the Humber Estuary.

The remaining 12 foundations will leave TAG's factory in Haverton Hill, near Billingham before the end of August.

With the award of this project, TAG became the first UK manufacturer to secure a substantial monopile and transition piece project for a wind farm in British waters.

The first set of monopiles was loaded onto a barge by self propelled modular transporter (SPMT) with the transition pieces lifted by crane onto the barge at TAG's wet dock facility.

The barge was then taken down the River Tees where it met the MPI Discovery vessel before being shipped to the wind farm.

The Humber Gateway will consist of 73 turbines that will generate up to 219MW of electricity, which developers say is enough energy to power 170,000 homes.

Stuart Oakley, chief executive of TAG, said: “We are very pleased to see the first four foundations make their way from Teesside to the Humber Gateway wind farm.

“This is a landmark project, which has utilised a strong blend of new technology and an experienced and highly-skilled workforce, highlighting the capabilities of TAG Energy Solutions and the wider UK offshore wind supply chain.”