UK- More offshore wind power to be installed

In early April, the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) was asking the government of the United Kingdom for intervention to help the country's renewable energy prospects, warning that the global economic crisis was putting projects, particularly offshore wind projects, at risk.

The trade body's pleas were answered later that month as the government announced its support for offshore wind energy with around GBP 525 million (US$760 million) in Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) rather than direct funding.

ROCs require energy suppliers in the U.K. to get a percentage of electricity from renewable sources. In 2009, this is 9.7 percent, but it will have increased to 15.4 percent by 2016. By 2020, the U.K. hopes to generate 40 percent of its electricity from renewable resources. Companies must present ROCs or pay a fee, giving the certificates a monetary value, as they can be bought or sold.

Every MWh of power generated by the U.K.'s offshore wind farms will be worth two ROCs, rather than the previous 1.5 ROCs.

Though the budget did not provide direct monetary support for offshore wind farms, it has already resulted in companies giving the go-ahead for several major offshore wind energy projects.

The London Array:
Among the largest of the upcoming projects is the London Array, which will be built around 12 miles (19 km) off the coasts of Kent and Essex in the Thames Estuary. Dong Energy, E.ON and Masdar will be investing around US$3 billion in building the first 630 MW phase of the wind farm. A second phase of the London Array will bring its capacity to 1 GW. When complete, the London Array will be the world's largest offshore wind farm. The consortium expects to begin offshore work in 2011 and have the first phase of the project generating electricity by 2012.

The first phase, built on a 90 sq mile (233 sq km) site, will consist of 175 Siemens SWT 3.6 turbines. The wind turbines are being delivered under a supply agreement for up to 500 turbines signed between Siemens Energy and Dong Energy. The Siemens scope of supply includes delivery, installation and commissioning of the 175 wind turbines, including a five-year service agreement, which holds Siemens responsible for servicing the offshore farm to ensure the turbines are running effectively. The turbines will be produced in Denmark and are expected to be shipped to the site for installation in 2011 and 2012. The turbines will be installed in water depths of up to 23 meters (75.4 ft) and the site has an average wind speed of 9.2 meters (30 ft) per second.

Walney II:
Dong Energy also is moving ahead with plans for the Walney II offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea. Walney II is to be affiliated with the Walney I offshore wind farm, for which planning has been completed. Investment in Walney I and II will total around US$1.69 billion. Walney I and II will be in the Irish Sea, 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) off England's northwest coast. Dong Energy has the right to develop, construct and operate a wind farm of up to 600 MW on the site. The wind farms will have a combined total capacity of 367 MW, and consist of 102 turbines. The planned completion date for Walney I is at the beginning of 2011. Walney II is expected to be completed in 2012. The turbines used will also be from Siemens, delivered under the previously mentioned agreement.

Sheringham Shoal:
Another major wind farm off the United Kingdom, the 315 MW Sheringham Shoal project, is being planned by Norwegian companies StatoilHydro and StatKraft. The companies each own 50 percent in joint venture Scira Offshore Energy , which was formed to develop the project. Work on Sheringham Shoal begins this year, with production planned to start in 2011. The 88-turbine Sheringham Shoal project is between 17 km (10.56 miles) and 23 km (14.3 miles) off the coast of the town of Sheringham in northern Norfolk, and will cover an area of 35 square km (13.5 sq miles). When fully operational, the offshore wind farm's annual electricity production is expected to be around 1.1 TWh.

All approvals needed for construction and operation of the wind farm have been received. StatoilHydro will act as operator during the construction phase. A variety of companies will be working on aspects of Sheringham Shoal. The turbines will be provided by Siemens Energy, which was also awarded an initial five year service contract with the possibility of an extension for up to 11 years. Areva will be providing two offshore substations and an onshore substation with related equipment including transformers, circuit breakers and reactive power compensation.

Wood Group Engineering will be in charge of the design and project management of the offshore substations. Norwegian services company Master Marine has received the contract for the planning and installation of the turbines and offshore substations, using a newbuild service jack construction vessel.

For more information please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net