Dong Energy Investment report   The investment is delivering significant benefits to the local economy across the region especially in the Liverpool region, Cumbria and Northern Ireland, creating jobs and helping local supply chain businesses to grow. With four offshore wind farms already operation off the North West coastline, DONG Energy is currently constructing two more including the 660 megawatt Walney Extension which, on completion in 2019, will eclipse the London Array as the world’s biggest offshore wind farm. The combined output of the company’s North West offshore wind farms will be capable of meeting the electricity needs of over 1.5 million UK homes. The new report – The Economic Impact of DONG Energy Investments in the East Irish Sea – has been produced by Regeneris Consulting, an independent economic development and generation consultancy. It has been launched today at the International Festival for Business 2016 in Liverpool, of which DONG Energy is an official supporter. Click here to read more. 

Meanwhile Eleven companies have agreed to build to a Euro 80/MWh cost level

Offshore wind: ‘The bosses of 11 companies – Adwen, EDPR, Eneco, Eon, GE, Iberdrola, MHI Vestas, RWE, Siemens, Statoil and Vattenfall – signed the declaration ahead of a meeting of the EU Energy Council. “With the right build out and regulatory framework the industry is confident that it can achieve cost levels below €80/MWh for projects reaching final investment decision in 2025, including the costs of connecting to the grid,” the open letter stated. “This means offshore wind will be fully competitive with new conventional power generation within a decade.” It warned the commitment would only be possible with “a stable, long-term market for renewables in Europe”, adding that “a strong pipeline of projects is needed to scale up offshore deployment and identify efficiencies in the supply chain”. “Regional cooperation on offshore wind between European countries is of vital importance,” the letter said, “particularly in the northern seas”. It said closer regional cooperation, on issues including planning, financing and regulation, would “help to reduce costs and remove barriers to investment”. To read more click here.