France has a number of significant natural advantages that are helping the country to establish itself as a major player in the wind-power industry. It has the second largest wind resource in Europe, after the UK, and the French mainland has three coastlines. The country also boasts the world’s second largest maritime area (when overseas … Read more
The British Government has confirmed that the UK-wide consortium bid from Ocean Energy Innovation, Carbon Trust and the National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec), has been selected to set up the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, a £50 million technology innovation project funded by the Technology Strategy Board. The centre will establish its primary location in Glasgow, … Read more
The world’s largest operational offshore wind farm has been opened off the coast of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. The £1 billion Walney wind farm is a joint venture between DONG Energy (50.1%), SSE (25.1%) and OPW (24.8%). With 102 turbines and a total capacity of 367.2 MW, Walney can supply up to 320,000 households a year … Read more
Wind energy in the EU will more than triple its power output by 2020 with Eur194 billion invested in European onshore and offshore wind farms during this decade, predicts the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). Electricity production from wind power is expected to increase from 182 Terawatt hours (TWh) or 5.5% of the total EU … Read more
EirGrid Group has published the executive report from a pioneering study into the design and architecture of a future Offshore Energy Grid. A key finding is that a well-designed offshore grid to cater for offshore generation could minimise the need for combined onshore and offshore reinforcement and would facilitate the development of more interconnector capacity … Read more
Minister for Natural Resources, Conor Lenihan will front a major promotion of Ireland’s oil and gas exploration potential at a major international petroleum conference in Singapore. Ireland’s offshore exploration potential will take centre stage at the Oil and Gas Investment Asia conference where Minister Lenihan will deliver a keynote speech, in which he will declare … Read more
The wind energy industry in the UK has reached a momentous milestone with 5GW of installed wind energy capacity or the equivalent of enough power to supply close to 3 million homes. The 5GW barrier has been achieved by the commissioning of two major wind farm developments – the expansion of Fred.Olsen Renewables’ Crystal Rig … Read more
Scotland’s renewable electricity target for the next decade is being raised from 50% to 80%. First Minister Alex Salmond has confirmed the Scottish Government’s increased national target – now 80% of Scottish electricity consumption to come from renewables by 2020 – ahead of a major international conference – Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference – next … Read more
E.ON has officially opened one of the UK’s largest offshore wind farms. Located in the Solway Firth, the Robin Rigg wind farm has a total capacity of 180 megawatts and the potential to generate enough electricity to supply the annual needs of 117,000 homes and to displace the emissions of 235,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. … Read more
Norwegian oil and energy group Statoil has held discussions with Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond, about the possibility of developing the world’s first floating windfarm off the Scottish coast. Two potential sites, one off the coast of Lewis and the other off Aberdeenshire, have been identified as suitable for a pilot park for Statoil’s Hywind … Read more