DEME consortium wins 2GW in ScotWind tender
Photo credit: Author HBHC04 on Wikimedia Commons
As part of the ScotWind seabed tender, a massive offshore wind auction by the Crown Estate Scotland, consortium Thistle Wind Partners (TWP) has been awarded two 1GW offshore wind option leases, in the E3 and NE2 plan option areas.
Scotland may be home to an incredible 25% of Europe’s wind resource, and the Scotwind auction, worth a 8,600km² of sea and nearly 25GW of capacity – enough to cover more than half the UK’s total average power demand – was understood to be fiercely competitive, with 74 bids made for the 15 areas auctioned.
TWP, a consortium incorporating DEME Concessions (Wind) NV and Qair Marine SA, each with a 42.5% share, and Aspiravi International NV, which forms the remaining 15%, has already conducted an evaluation of the grid capacity development and a risk mitigation plan in these locations. Now, TWP plans to construct 1GW each in the 187 km2 E3 and 200 km2 NE2 plan option areas.
“We are delighted to have secured two projects in such a competitive leasing round,” said Kristof Van Loon, General Manager of DEME Concessions. “Following extensive efforts over the last two years to submit successful ScotWind leasing bids, we will continue with this focused effort to deliver our projects as promptly and cost effectively as possible whilst actively engaging with the local stakeholders and the supply chain.”
TWP said in a statement that local content will be a key consideration during the planning and construction phases, “with a particular focus on breaking down barriers to new entrants to the job market, creating new skilled and energy transition jobs, and ensuring through investment that Scottish ports are ready and in the best position to seize an offshore wind pipeline of opportunities.”
“DEME considers these projects as a platform to increase our strong position in Scotland and the wider UK building further on the recent successful implementation of the 950MW Moray East Project by DEME Offshore,” added Van Loon.
The timescale for the second leasing round, ScotWind 2, is not yet known, but it is anticipated that the planning for a further auction could take place before the end of 2022.
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