Ocean Winds secures site in ScotWind
Ocean Winds, a joint venture
of EDP Renewables (EDPR) and ENGIE (50:50), has been awarded the rights
to develop new offshore wind generation capacity in the outer Moray Firth
in Scotland, as part of the ScotWind process run by Crown Estate Scotland.
It secure the 440 km2 site NE4 which has been named “Caledonia Offshore
Wind Farm” by Ocean Winds. The site lies in the outer Moray Firth, to
the East of Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm, Moray East, which Ocean
Winds began developing in 2010 and whose commercial operational date is
expected beginning of 2022.
Water depths are in the order of 50 m, and the site is expected to be developed
using proven fixed-bottom foundations. The area holds a potential capacity
of around 1 GW. Its output is expected to meet the needs of over 1 million
average UK households, and consideration is being given to using part of
the output for green hydrogen production.
Development will commence with the publication of an Environmental Impact
Scoping Report early next year and it is anticipated that the delivery
will be in this decade.
Commenting, Bautista Rodríguez, CEO of Ocean Winds, said: “Ocean Winds
considers it very important to have won the trust of the Scottish Government
to continue development of offshore wind in the Moray Firth with our new
Scottish site, the Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm.
"Scotland and the UK is one of the key strategic markets for Ocean
Winds and today’s success in the ScotWind process strengthens our position
as a leading player in offshore wind worldwide.”
Commenting, Dan Finch, Managing Director of Ocean Winds UK, said: “Our
950 MW Moray East project led the way, not just in Scotland, but in the
world in terms of cutting the cost of low carbon electricity. Moray East
is now generating enough power to meet the needs of up to 40% of Scottish
households. Its sister project, Moray West, is shovel-ready for construction
pending the next CfD auction. The Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm builds on
this success and today’s announcement provides vital security to the supply
chain and makes the Moray Firth the home of Scottish offshore wind generation.”