Announcements raise confidence in UK offshore wind
Two announcements appear to signal growing confidence in what has become a slightly beleaguered offshore wind industry in the UK.
Swedish energy firm Vattenfall has signed agreements with wind turbine manufacturer Vestas for three projects, one of which appears to be a resurrection of one that was abandoned in July.
The agreements, which are being called ‘another step in the right direction for offshore wind energy in the UK’, follow a recent UK government decision to raise the energy price for wind energy in the wake of a recent auction that did not receive a single bid from developers.
It also follows a decision in July by Vattenfall to abandon its Norfolk Boreas offshore wind project – with a new one of the same name now under agreement.
Danish firm Ørsted then confirmed that a Final Investment Decision (FID) had been reached on the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm, which is vast – more than twice the size of the current world largest operational offshore wind farm, Hornsea 2.
“This landmark decision enabling the biggest phase of the world’s largest consented offshore wind project to go ahead is a huge vote of confidence in Britain’s cutting-edge offshore wind industry,” said RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail.
“Today’s announcement also shows that the Government has been listening to the industry after the disappointment of this summer’s CfD auction which procured no new offshore wind.(Contracts for Difference)
The announcements made by Ministers over the last two months of more sustainable administrative strike prices, permanent full expensing for investors in green technologies and
funding to support clean energy manufacturing in the UK are putting us back on track to make Britain one of the most attractive countries for international investors in offshore wind.”
The UK has the second most offshore wind generation in the world, second only to China.
