EOWDC partners, Vattenfall, Technip and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group, are celebrating confirmation from the European Union that a grant award of up to €40 million within the European Economic Recovery Plan has been made to the offshore wind development facility.
“We very much welcome the news from the European Union which confirms the considerable financial support being awarded and underlines the strategic importance of the EOWDC and a move towards a vibrant UK offshore wind industry – which will attract jobs and inward investment, ” said David Hodkinson, Director and Head of Development, of Vattenfall Wind Power in the UK.
According to its developers, the centre will provide for up to eleven offshore wind turbines, and would enable “the accelerated development of offshore wind power” by proving the next generation of technology in a real time offshore environment. It is hoped that the facility would create jobs and economic benefit by attracting scientists, researchers, engineers, offshore wind supply chain companies and future investment in a fast growing sector.
The support is from the EU Recovery Plan endorsed by the European Council in December 2008 and part of wider proposals to invest in key energy and internet broadband infrastructure projects. The EU Grant will support both development and capital costs associated with the EOWDC. The establishment of both the joint venture partnership and EU grant application was achieved with invaluable support from the Scottish European Green Energy Centre (SEGEC).
“We are extremely pleased to be working with Vattenfall and AREG on the EOWDC. This opportunity is the first offshore wind project for Technip in Aberdeen and reflects our intention to become a major player in this sector,” commented Ron Cookson, Managing Director of Technip UK.
Meanwhile, Morag McCorkindale, Chief Operating Officer at AREG, highlighted that as well as supplying clean energy tot hr region, the EOWDC “will contribute considerably to the local economy through proving the technology and techniques needed to develop the major offshore wind farms planned to be built in the North Sea later this decade”.
In August of this year The Crown Estate awarded the EOWDC an exclusivity agreement as an offshore wind demonstration site. A series of EOWDC public information exhibitions took place across Aberdeen City and Shire venues from 22- 26th November. A full application for planning consent to construct the project will be submitted to Marine Scotland in early 2011.
For additional information:
European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
