Green Light Given For £2.6 Billion, 588 MW Offshore Wind Power Plant In Scotland
The green light has been given to build the 588 MW Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm in Scotland, after its owners reached Financial Close on the necessary £2.6 billion.
UK energy company SSE, along with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, and SDIC Power reached Financial Close on what will be one of the largest ever private investments made in Scottish infrastructure. The £2.6 billion, 558 MW Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm, which is expected to be completed and operational in 2019, is expected to power approximately 450,000 homes. Located in the Outer Moray Firth, construction begins begin in 2017.
At the same time, Siemens announced that it had received an order for 84 7 MW wind turbines for the Beatrice wind project. Each turbine, at 154-meters tall, will be delivered and installed in 2018.
Siemens is also contracted to deliver the onshore and offshore substations consisting of two offshore transformer modules.
“We are delighted that Beatrice has achieved Financial Close and we are extremely grateful for all of the support received throughout the development of the project from stakeholders such as the Scottish Government, DECC, HIE, the Highland Council, Moray Council and local communities,” said Paul Cooley, Director of Renewables at SSE. “Contracts have already been placed with many UK based suppliers, and Siemens intends to undertake turbine blade construction from Siemen’s new manufacturing facility in Hull.”
“This is a significant order for our new 7-megawatt-class wind turbine,” stated Michael Hannibal, CEO of the Offshore Market Unit of the Siemens Wind Power and Renewables Division. “We are looking forward to working with our customer on this large offshore wind power project off the Scottish coast.”
“It’s terrific to see another multi-billion pound international investment in our global-leading offshore wind industry,” said Hugh McNeal, RenewableUK’s Chief Executive. “We now know that by 2020, 10% of the UK’s electricity will be generated by offshore wind farms, securing jobs and investment all over our country.”
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