Objections to a cutting edge offshore wind farm and test facility, off Aberdeen, have been lifted by key stakeholders following discussions with the developers behind the green energy scheme.
The objections were lifted subject to a number of conditions to minimise impacts during construction and operation.
Concerns about the impact of the 11-turbine European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC, also known as Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm Ltd (AOWFL)) on air defence operations at RAF Buchan have eased after the MoD assessed the developer’s mitigation proposal. Similarly, air traffic controllers at National Air Traffic Services (NATS) have agreed plans for the wind farm developers to invest in radar hardware.
RSPB Scotland was also concerned about impacts on sensitive bird species. These concerns have been lifted after further studies showed that the impacts would be low and within acceptable limits
Iain Todd, the EOWDC project spokesma n, said: “The removal of a number of objections is another significant step forward for the scheme and the EOWDC partners hope for a green light on its consent application from the Scottish Government later this year.
“The EOWDC is a cutting edge scheme that will deliver major economic benefits to the North East economy and to Scotland. If the North East, Scotland and the UK are to establish and maintain their lead in offshore wind it needs demonstrator sites like the EOWDC,” added Mr Todd.
Richard Deakin, NATS CEO , said: “NATS objects to fewer than 5% of windfarm applications and when we object, it is always on the grounds of aviation safety. In this instance, having worked closely with all the organisations involved, we are pleased that the EOWDC consortium has agreed to provide an appropriate mitigation that enables us to withdraw our objection to the development.”
The consortium behind the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre – Vattenfall, Technip and the Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group – will deploy a number of ‘first run of production’ offshore wind turbine models to demonstrate their capabilities.
Recent Government reports have concluded that, with an enormous ramping up of installed offshore wind capacity expected in UK waters by the end of this decade, deployment centres like the EOWDC will play a vital role in helping to reduce the cost of generation in offshore wind and deliver more than £7billion in added value to the UK economy. The EOWDC consortium believes that the centre will place the North East and Scotland at the forefront of the burgeoning global offshore wind industry.
The EU has awarded a grant of €40million under the European Energy Programme for Recovery (EEPR) for the development of Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm (Ltd) (AOWFL), also known as the EOWDC.
Earlier this year, AOWFL also announced the signing of working agreements with six potential suppliers to deploy state-of-the-art wind turbines at the ground-breaking EOWDC site.
The Memoranda of Understanding between AOWFL and the six companies brings Scotland one step closer to being at the forefront of the global renewables revolution. Offshore wind developers consider demonstration sites, such as the one proposed off Aberdeen, of critical importance when designing the next generation of wind technology. The Aberdeen energy hub is ideally placed to attract inward investment and jobs to not only Aberdeen City and the Shire, but Scotland, the UK and Europe.
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Press release, October 02, 2012; Image: eowdc