Windfarm off the coast of Aberdeen to secure Scotland’s place as centre of offshore wind resources
FIFTY SIX THOUSAND HOUSEHOLDS could be powered by an eight turbine floating windfarm 15km south of Aberdeen, which has been approved by the Scottish Government.
The Kincardine offshore windfarm will also provide 110 “highly skilled jobs” throughout its construction and maintenance.
It’s approval after assessments for environmental impact and economic value was welcomed by charities such as WWF Scotland, who have been pressing the Scottish Government to be more radical in its aims to ensure 50 per cent of all energy is produced through renewables.
The development also comes during a time when the Scottish Government is under pressure from the Scottish Tories, nuclear companies such as EDF and petrochemical bodies like Ineos to commit to fracking and nuclear power.
“It will also cement our place as one of the world’s leading nations in the innovation and deployment of floating offshore wind.” Paul Wheelhouse MSP
Commenting on the approval yesterday (Thursday 9 March) Lang Banks, director of WWF Scotland said: “The continued development of floating turbines in Scotland is encouraging as it could enable us and other nations to secure even more clean power from offshore wind. One thing is clear, if we are to meet our future climate and energy targets we will certainly need both more onshore and offshore wind in the future.
“With the right political support for offshore wind and other technologies, Scotland can remain on course to secure half of all its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030. Research shows that generating half of our energy from renewables by 2030 is both necessary and achievable.”
In addition, it will help to prevent over 94,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
Scotland has 25 per cent of Europe’s offshore wind energy potential, and a network of ports and harbours close to northern Europe making it, according to renewable advocates, ideally placed to develop offshore wind. Despite this, countries such as Germany still have a faster growing offshore wind sector than Scotland. This partly the result of cuts in subsidies by the UK Government and more stringent planning permission processes.
On behalf of the Scottish Government, energy minister Paul Wheelhouse MSP, who granted planning consent, said: “Once operational, this pioneering, 50MW Kincardine Offshore Windfarm will produce enough electricity to power almost 56,000 homes and will create jobs and investment across Scotland through the use of our supply chain.
“It will also cement our place as one of the world’s leading nations in the innovation and deployment of floating offshore wind. If the technology can be demonstrated at scale, it has huge potential to help Scotland meet its energy needs and to develop a supply chain that can service opportunities elsewhere in Europe and in markets such as South East Asia and North America.”
Picture courtesy of The Danish Wind Association
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