Talisman Energy (UK) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Talisman Energy Inc., and Perth-based Scottish and Southern Energy plc (SSE), have announced plans to construct a £24 million deepwater wind farm demonstrator project adjacent to the Talisman operated Beatrice Field, 25 kilometres off the east coast of Scotland.
“The existing infrastructure at Beatrice offers a unique opportunity to test the feasibility of wind farms in water depths of 35 to 45 metres, while optimizing the value of our existing facilities,” said Dr. Jim Buckee, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Initially the two turbines will provide electric power for Beatrice and, if successful, we will evaluate a large scale commercial project. We hope to show that it is possible to transfer complementary oil and gas skills into the offshore renewable energy business, providing additional opportunities for investment and employment in the North Sea.”
The demonstrator project will test technologies for deepwater wind farms distant from the shore, with no visual impact. The results will help determine if large-scale developments of this type are a practical source of renewable energy. The project will include the design, construction, installation and operation of two prototype turbines.
The power generated by the turbines will be used at the Beatrice platform and will operate alongside Talisman’s existing operations at Beatrice without affecting production. It is anticipated that construction of these turbines will begin later this year and first electricity generation is expected to begin late in 2006. A number of jobs will be created in Scotland and other parts of the UK, mainly in the areas of engineering design, fabrication and operations support.
Mr Timms said: “It’s great to see such a novel and innovative project testing the feasibility of wind farm technology in substantially deeper water than has been tried before. I am pleased to announce that the DTI is making £3 million of funding available for this project.
"If the UK is to achieve its aspirations for the longer term development of renewable energy then we may need to consider exploiting substantially more of our renewable resource than is currently envisaged. Projects such as the Talisman Beatrice wind farm demonstrator are a testament to the world class skills and determination available in the North Sea and I congratulate Talisman on their pioneering approach."
The Beatrice wind farm demonstrator project has been incorporated into the pan-European initiative, DOWNVInD (Distant Offshore Wind farms With No Visual Impact iN Deepwater). DOWNVInD has been established as a catalyst for commercializing deepwater wind farm technology and includes 14 different organizations from six European countries.
The Commission will contribute €6 million from its research budget to the DOWNVInD “integrated project”, which has a total cost of € 30 million. The partners will try to meet or exceed a cost reduction target of 20% that would make offshore wind farms in deep water economically viable. “Offshore wind power may have many technical and environmental advantages over onshore wind power. The DOWNVInD project can contribute substantially to the future development of EU policy in this area,” said Vice-President Loyola de Palacio, responsible of Energy and Transport.
During the five-year period of the demonstrator project, Talisman and SSE will collect performance data, look for ways to reduce costs and develop operating procedures. If the project is successful, Talisman and SSE will consider the construction of a full-scale offshore windfarm. A commercial venture could generate upwards of one gigawatt of electricity, more than enough to power the city of Aberdeen.
“There is widespread agreement that the key to realising the full potential of renewable energy over the long term is the development of new technologies,” said SSE Chief Executive Ian Marchant. “We are committed to building on our position as the UK’s largest generator of electricity from renewable sources. Our participation in this demonstrator project reflects our belief in the long term opportunities that renewable energy offers and confirms that Scotland and the rest of the UK is well positioned to become a leader in this field.”
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