Danish wind energy company Dong Energy has inaugurated an offshore wind farm in Gunfleet Sands, off the Essex Coast in the UK.

The 172MW wind farm will supply power equivalent to the annual energy consumption of approximately 125,000 households.

The plant began transmitting power in August 2009 and went into full production this year.

The project was developed in two phases, and comprises Gunfleet Sands 1 with 30 turbines and Gunfleet Sands 2 with 18 turbines.

The turbines have a capacity of 3.6MW each, with a rotor diameter of 107m and a height of 129m from blade tip to sea level.