Norway’s Statkraft is pressing on with the strategy to sell its offshore wind assets in the UK; however, the energy company plans to continue to participate in offshore wind projects in the UK through entering into power purchase agreements.
The news follows the sale of Statkraft’s 25% interest in the 4.8GW Dogger Bank offshore wind projects to partners Statoil and SSE.
The companies, who are both existing partners in the projects, will each take an additional 12.5% share resulting in a new Dogger Bank shareholding of Statoil 37.5%, SSE 37.5% and innogy 25%.
The sale of the Dogger Bank projects is in line with Statkraft’s strategy to explore opportunities to exit the ownership of offshore wind power assets.
However, Statkraft says that the UK offshore wind sector presents a significant opportunity to develop a secure, sustainable, cost-competitive energy source and that the company remains open to new PPAs.
Statkraft currently holds a 40% share in Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farm and 30% in Dudgeon offshore wind farm and plans to evaluate opportunities to divest these assets during 2017.
The company is also a 50% partner in the Triton Knoll offshore wind project and remains committed to working with innogy to develop the project towards an investment decision before bringing in new owners.