Plans to construct what’s billed as the world’s largest offshore windfarm, in the north of Scotland, were unveiled in late August.
The £4.5 billion project is in an area designated the Eastern Development Area (EDA) in the Firth of Moray, off the northeastern tip of Scotland. The developer is the joint venture firm of Moray Offshore Renewables (MORL), formed in 2009 by renewable energy development companies EDP Renewables and SeaEnergy Renewables. MORL is the exclusive developer operating in the EDA.
In the course of development of the project, the EDA was split into three wind farm sites. MORL has set up Special Purpose Vehicles to consent to, construct, operate and maintain the offshore wind farm sites, as follows:
• Telford Offshore Wind Farm (Telford), for which consents for construction and operation are being applied for by Telford Offshore Windfarm Limited;
• Stevenson Offshore Wind Farm (Stevenson), for which consents for construction and operation are being applied for by Stevenson Offshore Windfarm Limited; and
• MacColl Offshore Wind Farm (MacColl), for which consents for construction and operation are being applied for by MacColl Offshore Windfarm Limited. The maximum capacity for the MORL Zone is 1,500 MW (1.5 GW). Consent to construct up to a maximum total capacity of 1,500 MW across the three proposed wind farm sites is being sought. The maximum capacity for each of the three sites is set out below.
|
| Telford | Stevenson | MacColl | EDA |
| Area | 93 km2 | 77 km2
| 125 km2
| 295 km2
|
| Maximum capacity | 500 MW
| 500 MW
| 500 MW
| 1,500 MW
|
Timeline
The development of offshore wind energy in Zone 3 in the Moray Firth is at an early stage. The company plans to consult with its stakeholders on its plans in spring 2010. A website will provide information about the project as it becomes available. The following provides indicative timescales, although these may change as the project develops:
2010 – Consultation with stakeholders commences
2012 – Application for consent
2014 – Construction Commences
2016 – Anticipated First Generation
The Scotsman newspaper reported August 31 that the project has garnered opposition, including American tycoon Donald Trump, saying the project would be “a blot on the landscape.”