Wind Turbine Big Enough To Land A Helicopter On? Scotland Has It Covered

Scotland has an ambitious and admirable goal: 100% renewable energy. Taking steps toward reaching this goal, the Scottish government approved an offshore test site for a new 6MW wind turbine.

2-B Energy, based in the Netherlands, has permission to install an innovative two-bladed wind turbine approximately 70 feet off the coast of Methil in Fife, according to Scottish energy minister Fergus Ewing. 2-B is one of several companies which has a lease in the 2010 offshore wind demonstration leasing round, which is supposed to help develop wind farms offshore and in deep water.

Local, Green, 100% Renewable

All of the energy generated by the prototype turbine is earmarked for local use. Ewing says that the demonstration will help Scotland achieve a low-carbon economy, and:

“Innovative companies deciding to test their new ideas in Scotland is further evidence of our reputation as a place to develop and deploy all forms of new green energy technologies. We are working to create the optimum conditions for low-carbon investment to ensure we remain well-placed to become an international hub for low-carbon expertise and a green energy powerhouse for Europe.”

2-B was initially supposed to install two prototypes, but only one is currently approved. Fife Council did not oppose the application, and no public representations were received. 2-B was founded in 2007 and is currently funded in part by developer Mainstream Renewable Power and the European firm Truffle Capital.

As part of an island, Scotland is pretty well suited to developing offshore wind farms — hopefully the project will generate some useful (or at least fun) information (landing a helicopter on a turbine looks fun, right?).

Source | Image: Business Green