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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) - ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) (Glasgow, Scotland) has scrapped plans to develop a massive 1,800-megawatt windfarm citing a number of technical and environmental challenges.
The proposed Argyll Array Offshore Windfarm off the coast of Tiree in the Inner Hebrides would have had up to 300 turbines, capable of generating enough electricity for approximately one million homes. The project would have cost an estimated 6.4 billion ($8.8 billion).
This is the second major U.K. offshore windfarm project to be scrapped in recent weeks. At the start of this month, the U.K. arm of German energy major RWE AG (OTC:RWEOY) (Essen, Germany) pulled the plug on the 1,500 MW Atlantic Array Project proposed for the Bristol Channel. RWE cited difficulties with building turbines in deeper waters. For additional information, see December 2, 2013, article - RWE Scraps Giant U.K. Offshore Windfarm.
ScottishPower Renewables, part of Spanish energy giant, Iberdrola SA (MCE:IBE) (Bilbao, Spain), said that following detailed technical and environmental site studies it would not be taking forward its lease option to develop the Argyll Array Offshore Windfarm in the near future -- a period it confirmed would be not less than 10 years.
"The main issues affecting the progression of the project are the ground conditions in the site, particularly the presence of hard rock, coupled with challenging wave conditions which could impact construction," the company stated. "Beyond this, there is a significant presence of basking sharks, which environmental groups continue to study to get a greater understanding of their movements in the area."
Jonathan Cole, Head of Offshore Wind at ScottishPower Renewables, explained: "We believe it is possible to develop the Argyll Array site, it has the some of the best wind conditions of any offshore zone in the U.K.. However, it is our view that the Argyll Array project is not financially viable in the short term. As cost reductions continue to filter through the offshore wind industry, and as construction techniques and turbine technology continues to improve, we believe that the Argyll Array could become a viable project in the long term. The rate of progress in development of foundation and installation technology has been slower than anticipated. The current outlook for offshore wind deployment in the U.K. suggests this will not significantly improve in the short term. This supports the view that it could take 10-15 years for the required technology improvements to be available for this project".
The company said that it will now focus on fully constructing the West of Duddon Sands project with Denmark's Dong Energy A/S and continue its development work on the East Anglia Zone with Vattenfall AB (Stockholm, Sweden).
View Project Report -- 78000536 78000498 300032723
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and nine international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. To contact an office in your area, visit the Industrial Info "Contact Us" page.
The proposed Argyll Array Offshore Windfarm off the coast of Tiree in the Inner Hebrides would have had up to 300 turbines, capable of generating enough electricity for approximately one million homes. The project would have cost an estimated 6.4 billion ($8.8 billion).
This is the second major U.K. offshore windfarm project to be scrapped in recent weeks. At the start of this month, the U.K. arm of German energy major RWE AG (OTC:RWEOY) (Essen, Germany) pulled the plug on the 1,500 MW Atlantic Array Project proposed for the Bristol Channel. RWE cited difficulties with building turbines in deeper waters. For additional information, see December 2, 2013, article - RWE Scraps Giant U.K. Offshore Windfarm.
ScottishPower Renewables, part of Spanish energy giant, Iberdrola SA (MCE:IBE) (Bilbao, Spain), said that following detailed technical and environmental site studies it would not be taking forward its lease option to develop the Argyll Array Offshore Windfarm in the near future -- a period it confirmed would be not less than 10 years.
"The main issues affecting the progression of the project are the ground conditions in the site, particularly the presence of hard rock, coupled with challenging wave conditions which could impact construction," the company stated. "Beyond this, there is a significant presence of basking sharks, which environmental groups continue to study to get a greater understanding of their movements in the area."
Jonathan Cole, Head of Offshore Wind at ScottishPower Renewables, explained: "We believe it is possible to develop the Argyll Array site, it has the some of the best wind conditions of any offshore zone in the U.K.. However, it is our view that the Argyll Array project is not financially viable in the short term. As cost reductions continue to filter through the offshore wind industry, and as construction techniques and turbine technology continues to improve, we believe that the Argyll Array could become a viable project in the long term. The rate of progress in development of foundation and installation technology has been slower than anticipated. The current outlook for offshore wind deployment in the U.K. suggests this will not significantly improve in the short term. This supports the view that it could take 10-15 years for the required technology improvements to be available for this project".
The company said that it will now focus on fully constructing the West of Duddon Sands project with Denmark's Dong Energy A/S and continue its development work on the East Anglia Zone with Vattenfall AB (Stockholm, Sweden).
View Project Report -- 78000536 78000498 300032723
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and nine international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. To contact an office in your area, visit the Industrial Info "Contact Us" page.
