Vattenfall applies to extend life of cutting-edge wind farm

Vattenfall, the Swedish energy group which operates the pioneering European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre in Aberdeen Bay, is applying to the Scottish Government to extend its operational lease from 22 years to 25 years. 
 
Kevin Metcalfe, Vattenfall’s Project Director, said: “We have submitted to Marine Scotland an application to prolong the lease of the innovative European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre from 22-years to 25-years. If approved by Marine Scotland and Crown Estate Scotland, the longer operating life of the wind farm will deliver a boost to local jobs, businesses and the generation of more fossil free electricity.” 
 
The European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC), also known as Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm, started operations in 2018. The application aims to bring the operational lease in line with the  design-life of wind farm components and safely operate the offshore wind test and demonstration site for an additional three years. This period excludes the time needed to decommission the wind farm.   
 
The EOWDC’s 11 turbines, currently the world’s most powerful, have a total generating capacity of over 93.2MW, which can supply the equivalent of 70% of Aberdeen’s household electricity demand. The project will annually prevent more than 130,000 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. 
 
The more than £300mn EOWDC is a test bed for innovation in the offshore wind sector. The new components and techniques deployed at the Centre will support the development of a low-cost industry that will form the backbone of the transition to a low carbon economy. 
 
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