Renew On Line (UK) 31

Extracts from the May-June 2001 edition of Renew
These extracts only represent about 25% of it

Offshore Wind

British Energy and RES linkup

British Energy, the UK nuclear plant operator, have formed a joint venture company with Renewable Energy Systems Ltd to develop offshore wind power around the UK. The new 50:50 joint venture company, Offshore Wind Power Limited, has now obtained a go ahead for its first project from the Crown Estate, which owns the seabed ( see below).

RES is one of Europe’s leading wind energy developers and part of the large construction company Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd. British Energy is the UK’s largest power generator supplying over 20% of the country’s power, from its Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors and the Sizewell PWR. It’s tempting to see this move as an exercise in diversification away from nuclear power. Certainly with the AGRs likely to begin to be retired from 2005 onwards, the company needs to look to other sources, and offshore wind is obviously the coming thing. British Energy’s Chief Executive Peter Hollins said: "We are pleased to be sharing our power generation and supply expertise with one of Europe's leading wind energy developers to form a robust team for the development of offshore wind power. Adding generation from wind energy to our nuclear portfolio means the Company will continue to make an enormous contribution to the UK achieving and maintaining its climate change commitments".

Offshore Wind Power Ltd say that the pre-qualification acceptance by the Crown Estate marks the first stage in a development process which could last around four years, and that, following this, they will apply for consents, carry out surveys and enter a round of grant applications to the DTI. The DTI says that by 2010 the offshore wind industry will generate 1.8% of UK electricity.

RES is the largest UK-based wind energy developer with over 1100 MW of capacity on its books at various stages of development in the USA, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Plans include construction of the world’s largest wind farm in Texas, with a capacity of 280MW.

British Energy (Canada) is also now active in the wind power field, via a 50/50 ‘Huron Wind’ venture with Ontario Power.

CONTACTS: British Energy +44 (0)1355 594040

RES Ltd 01795 536667

http://www.britishenergy.com

18 New Offshore Wind Projects

In all, Eighteen proposals for a reported 1700 MW of offshore wind projects worth £1.5bn, have obtained initial approval for leases from the UK Crown Estate, which owns the seabed out to 12 miles. British Energy /RES (see above) got agreement for a 30 turbine scheme 5km off Skegness, with 2-3 MW machines. Powergen succeeded with its long proposed £70 m 38 machine wind farm at Scroby sands, 3km off Great Yarmouth. It will use 2MW turbines. TXU Eastern are, it seems, involved with one on Solway Firth. There are three projects in the NW off Clevelys, including one from Shell, and two off Merseyside and one off Barrow. Wales has one at Prestatyn (NWP), and Porthcawl (Hyder). On the East coast there’s an Enron project at Gunfleet Sands near Clacton, while NEC Micon has one at Whitstable. There are also projects at Redcar and Cromer, plus another at Skegness.

Under the terms of Crown Estate leases, each site will support around 30 turbines over an area of around 10 square kilometers, and each installation will have a minimum capacity of 20 MW. The next stage will be to enter the DTI competition for capital grant allocation- so as to try to obtain a share in the £89m, and the more recent £100m, set aside for offshore wind and energy crop projects.

More in Renew 132 Meanwhile see www.offshorewindfarms.co.uk