Function
The balance of plant includes all the components of the wind farm except the turbines. It also includes the transmission assets built as a direct result of the wind farm.
What it costs*
About £1.1 billion for a 1 GW wind farm.
Who supplies them
See relevant sections below.
Key facts
Much of the benefit of larger capacity wind turbines on a wind farm is realised by the reduction in balance of plant costs. Although larger capacity wind turbines may require larger and more robust supporting structures and cabling, fewer turbines, supporting structures and cables required per GW typically results in a net benefit in terms of cost. Like-for-like balance of plant costs will increase as wind farms are built further from shore, in deeper water and in more challenging sea conditions.