Dounreay Trì has awarded a construction contract for a floating wind farm off the northern coast of Scotland to Scottish energy sector service company, Global Energy Group.
The twin turbine project which is subject to receiving planning consent, would be capable of generating 10 MW of electricity. It would be 9km off Dounreay, Caithness, and consist of two 5 MW turbines on a single moored floating structure, with a single export cable to shore.
Global Energy Group will construct the structures at its Nigg Energy Park facility in the Scottish Highlands, with work expected to start in summer, this year.
The main floating structure would be around 190m by 100m, including 30m-high columns, making it the largest structure to be loaded out of Global Energy Group's facility in recent years.
Dounreay Trì has also entered into an agreement with the Highland port of Scrabster, near Thurso, for servicing the facility.
Dounreay Tri says the prototype facility would put Scotland at the forefront of developing this floating wind technology, which could be deployed in deepwater rather than just in the shallower waters, such as those off the east coast of England, as at present.
"Unlike more conventional offshore wind structures, these wind farms will be entirely assembled in the construction yard and then towed into position. This would certainly open up an enormous market potential," says the firm.
"By opening up the deeper waters off the north and west coast of Scotland the new floating wind farms can make a significant contribution to helping Scotland meet its renewable energy targets."
Marcus Thor, Project Director for Dounreay Trì Limited said: “Whilst we await the outcome of our planning applications, as and when they are approved, this will place Scotland at the forefront of floating offshore wind production worldwide.”
Ian Cobban, executive VP, capital projects, for Global Energy Group said: “Once planning is confirmed, we envisage fabrication works will commence in Summer 2017, with assembly works within Nigg Energy Park’s Dry Dock facility through to 1H 2018."