Scotlands transformation into a major offshore wind power
producer received a major blow this week with the withdrawal of
Fred Olsen Renewables (FOR) from the Forth Array project.
The Norweigan renewable energy group terminated the project
following a strategic review of its wind energy
portfolio. The company will instead focus on its offshore
wind project programme, which offers better near-term
return-on-investment (ROI).
FORs UK managing director Nick Emery said:
"As an independent power producer we have concluded that the
most efficient use of our development resource is in our onshore
portfolios, where historically we have had considerable success,"
he said. "Crystal Rig Wind Farms I and II, for example, provide
almost 10 per cent of Scotland's operational wind
capacity."
However, he added that "the wider Fred Olsen Group will
continue to support the offshore market through its supply chain
companies, and FOR will continue to progress with the Codling
offshore farm in Irish Waters."
FORs withdrawal from the Forth Array raises fresh questions
about Scotlands ability to meet its ambitious 2020 targets for
offshore wind generation. Fred Olsen are the third offshore wind
developer to quit the Crown Estates Scottish Territorial Round in
the last year, compounding the impact of SSE's withdrawal from the
700MW Bell Rock project and RWE's withdrawal from the 900MW
Inchcape project.
The collapse of a third major offshore wind project in the Firth
of Forth threatens Edinburghs ambition to re-develop Leith as
a major wind energy port. The termination of the Forth Array
and Black Rock projects represent a serious loss of
potential business for Leith, which is already under stiff
competition from the ports of Dundee, Aberdeen, Newcastle
and Hull.
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