SSE and Talisman plan prototype deepwater wind farm
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Talisman Energy (UK) Ltd have unveiled plans to build a £24 million deepwater wind farm project, adjacent to the Talismanoperated Beatrice gas field. The project, to be sited 25 km off the east coast of Scotland, will be used to test the technology for deepwater wind farms sited far offshore.
The power generated from the two 5 MW prototype turbines will be used at the Beatrice platform, and will not affect production from the field, the companies said. A spokesman for SSE said that there were no plans for the plant to be connected to the mainland. First electricity generation is expected to begin late in 2006, with construction beginning later this year.
The demonstrator project will receive £3 million in funding from both the Scottish Executive and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), as well as EUR 6 million from the European Commission. SSE and Talisman will each contribute around £7 million, having already spent a total of £2 million on four feasibility studies for the project.
SSE’s chief executive Ian Marchant said: “We are committed to building on our position as the UK’s largest generator of electricity from renewable sources. Our participation in this demonstrator project reflects our belief in the long term opportunities that renewable energy offers and confirms that Scotland and the rest of the UK is well positioned to become a leader in this field.” GR
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