Inch Cape Offshore Limited (ICOL), the joint venture partnership formed between Repsol Nuevas Energias UK Limited (Repsol) (51%) and EDP Renováveis SA (EDPR) (49%) announced that it had submitted consent applications to Marine Scotland to develop an offshore wind farm and transmission assets in the outer Firth of Tay, as part of The Crown Estate Scottish Territorial Waters licensing programme.
The applications represent the culmination of three years of development work, data gathering, extensive environmental studies and broad consultation. A full Environmental Impact Assessment has been undertaken, with the results presented in an Environmental Statement, which is available for public viewing at locations around East Lothian, Fife and Angus.
The key features of the development include:
• Total number of wind turbines: up to 213
• Total area: 150km2
• Maximum turbine blade tip height: up to 215m (above Lowest Astronomical Tide)
• National Grid connection agreement for 1050 MW at Cockenzie, East Lothian
Ronnie Bonnar, Managing Director of Repsol UK , commented:
‘’The submission of the consent application is an important milestone for the Inch Cape project. It represents another major step towards development of offshore wind power in the outer Firth of Tay, delivering opportunities for communities in the surrounding area to benefit from the investment which is expected to deliver up to 1,600 Scottish jobs during construction. We look forward to working with the relevant stakeholders to ensure a positive outcome for the application.
Offshore wind energy will be critical to delivering the UK’s energy needs in the coming decades and Repsol is committed to being at the heart of this emerging industry.’’
Dan Finch, Managing Director of EDPR UK , said:
“This represents another significant milestone in the delivery of a new industry which will make a significant contribution to improving national energy security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and protecting consumers from the long-term volatility of the global hydrocarbon markets. ‘’
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Press release, July 5, 2013; Image: inchcapewind