The realization that the global energy market is currently in a transition away from fossil fuel-based energy production, several nations around the four corners of the globe are turning to the renewable energy sector to develop clean energy projects. The United Kingdom has long been subjected to rainy, windy, and overall cloudy weather that has blanketed the region for generations. Now, a massive floating wind project aims to make use of the UK’s windy and sun-deprived weather.
Scotland is set to become home to one of Europe’s largest floating wind projects
Scotland has long been under the impression that renewable energy generation simply can not work in the region. Solar power, in particular, has been an ambition that is out of reach for the nation. The solution to Scotland’s clean energy problem is simple: wind power.
Wind power generation requires only a strong and consistent breeze to power the massive turbines used by the sector. And the UK has some seriously strong wind currents that are a constant feature in the regions weather report.
Now, the 560 MW Green Volt floating wind project is set to redefine the nation’s clean energy ambitions, while supplying crucial electricity to the oil and gas production sectors in the United Kingdom.
The Green Volt wind project exemplifies the region’s proclivity for wind power
INTOG is a seabed leasing round by Crown Estate Scotland (CES) that aims to foster new and pioneering energy developments in the region. The Green Volt wind project has been proposed as a potential solution to meet the UK’s clean energy ambitions over the coming years. Located 75km northeast of Peterhead, the Green Volt project is set to offer 560 MW of clean energy that will supply electricity to the UK energy market.
The Green Volt project reached a significant milestone recently
With the required environmental surveys starting in 2020, the Green Volt floating wind project proposed off the Scottish coast has received consent for onshore and offshore operations. Having been awarded a Contracts for Difference (CfD) by the UK Government, the Green Volt project is set to become the first commercial-scale floating offshore wind farm in Europe.
The significant benefits of the Green Volt project can potentially redefine sentiments over wind power in the region. The project can offer a range of benefits, including but not limited to:
- Saving around 1 million tonnes of CO₂ annually
- Adding approximately £2.5 billion Gross Value to the UK economy
- Provide over 2,800 direct jobs during construction
The project is targeting first power deliveries in 2029 and could reshape the European energy market due to its substantial energy generation capacity. As the European continent sees a new funding ambition unfolding across the continent to spur investments in wind power, the Green Volt project is set to become the cornerstone of the European clean energy target.
The Green Volt project could possibly cut Scotland’s offshore emissions by 50%, contributing to the UK’s target of 43 to 50GW of offshore wind by 2030. The 35-year operation expectancy of the project means that it will supply the region with clean wind power for many decades to come.
Europe’s proclivity for the wind power sector is not shared by the United States
The Green Volt project is an exemplar of the region’s clear and evident proclivity for the wind power sector overall; however, the United States does not share that sentiment. Industry analysts have noted that due to the current administration’s disdain for the wind power sector, wind power in the US has all but been paralyzed. Scotland and the UK can rest a little bit easier knowing that there is a plan to develop an astonishingly large wind power project that could redefine the region’s energy market for years to come.
