THE last of Rampion’s 116 turbines have been installed with the wind farm on track to start producing energy last this year.

It has taken the team six months to install the 80 metre high turbines which are eight miles off the coast.

They started in early March with crews on two vessels, the MPI Discovery and MPI Adventure, working tirelessly to get the job done.

The ships have been going to and from Esbjerg in Denmark carrying eight turbines on each journey.

The turbines weigh approximately 200 tonnes each. The ships use giant struts to plant themselves to the seabed for stability before carefully lifting each turbine into position on its foundation pole.

A nacelle, a protective covering which houses the generator and gearbox and three blades, is then fitted to the top of each turbine.

The blades, which are 55 metres in length, are then hoisted and connected one at a time.

Chris Tomlinson, development and stakeholder manager for the Rampion, said: “We’re especially proud to have achieved this remarkable feat, installing all 116 turbines ahead of schedule in just over six months.

“This major milestone sees the safe installation of all physical components visible above sea level, representing the full extent of the wind farm.”

Since the spring workers have laid 70 miles (112 kilometres) of cables, which connect the turbines to the offshore substation, which was installed in April. That substation then transports power to shore.

Mr Tomlinson added: “We now look forward to Rampion’s first generation of electricity later this year.”

Further construction work will now continue on both the offshore and onshore substations. There is still work to be done on the onshore cable route.

The 400MW project is being constructed by energy giant E.ON.

When complete it will provide enough electricity to supply 347,000 homes a year, equivalent to around half the homes in Sussex.

Mr Tomlinson said the project was on schedule to be fully operational next year.