Innovative wind power company Dounreay Trì has awarded the construction contract for a novel floating wind farm approximately 9km off the northern coast of Scotland to Scottish energy service company, Global Energy Group, subject to approval by Marine Scotland and the Scottish Government.

The Dounreay Trì floating wind demonstration project will comprise a single semi-submersible platform with two five-megawatt wind turbines, plus an export cable to bring the power ashore and associated onshore electrical infrastructure. The Swedish-owned company has also entered into a conditional service agreement MoU with the port of Scrabster near Thurso.

In order to proceed, the application to Marine Scotland and Scottish Ministers must be processed by 31 March 2017 as the Renewable Obligation Certificate level required is only available to projects approved by that date. Assembly is to take place at Global Energy Group’s Nigg Energy Park facility north of Inverness and the prototype wind farm expects to be operational in the summer of 2018.

Click here to read the RSPB’s letter of support.