The scoping report has been published for an onshore wind farm capable of powering a city the size of Dundee.
Bodinglee in South Lanarkshire would have 60 ultra-efficient turbines. Its 300MW generating capacity would make the wind farm the UK’s third-largest by electricity generated.
Banks Renewables has submitted the scoping report to South Lanarkshire Council. The proposed wind farm would be situated either side of the M74 between Douglas and Abington – not far from Banks’ wind farms at Kype and Middle Muir. The site is situated on farmland owned by the Douglas and Angus Estates.
Bodinglee has the potential to deliver £80m worth of contracts to local firms, directly support around 500 jobs and displace over 150,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, said Banks Renewable.
The company said that it is keen to reproduce its successful Connect2Renewables South Lanarkshire initiative, which is currently creating employment opportunities for those living close to its Kype and Middle Muir wind farms.
It intends hosting initial consultations on the project in the first half of 2021.
Gordon Thomson, head of projects with Banks Renewables, said: “This is a big project and will make a significant contribution to Scotland reaching #netzero by 2045. Onshore wind is a proven technology and the lowest cost renewable energy, helping keep consumers’ bills low.
He added that the company strongly believes that the local communities that host its projects should benefit the most from them. “We want the local community involved right from the beginning and so have launched an online consultation so that we can hear their views from now on.”
The wind farm’s size means that there could be investment through a community fund of up to £45m over the life of the project. Thomson said that Banks wants to work with local people to ensure it delivers a long-lasting positive legacy for those living in the area.
Over the next few years Banks will be commissioning surveys of the local area as it looks to design the layout of the wind farm.
https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/scope-unveiled-for-300m-onshore-wind-farm
The Welsh island of Ynys Enlli could ditch its dependency on diesel to become the world’s first ‘blue energy island’ thanks to a new tidal energy project.
Nova Innovation has secured an investment of £1.2m from the Welsh government through the European Regional Development Fund for its Enlli project in north Wales.
The installation will generate electricity from the natural ebb and flow of the tide between Ynys Enlli – also known as Bardsey Island – and the mainland of the Llŷn Peninsula. Nova said the project could help the ‘Island in the Currents’ switch from a dependency on diesel generation to become the world’s first blue energy island.
The new funding will support the environmental consent and engineering design work. Nova plans to install five 100kW turbines on the seabed, with a view to install more turbines in the future.
Tidal energy is unique among renewable energy resources as it is predictable ahead of time, helping to meet and balance local demand. The project provides an opportunity for local communities to power homes, businesses and vehicles using the power of the tide.
“As Wales looks to respond to the challenges posed by the climate emergency, we need to harness the ambition and innovative spirit of renewable energy providers like Nova, ensuring that their expertise and experience can be put to good use,” said Lesley Griffiths, Welsh government minister for energy.
“As such, I am very pleased that we have been able to support Nova in their Ynys Enlli tidal energy project. Wales was at the leading edge of the first industrial revolution, and through projects like these we can play a leading role in the green industrial revolution taking place today.”
Environmental monitoring of Nova’s Shetland Tidal Array in Bluemull Sound, which includes regular seabird and marine mammal surveys of the area and use of underwater cameras to monitor wildlife around the turbines, has not detected any negative impacts on marine wildlife.
Jess Hooper from Marine Energy Wales said: “This is yet another boost for the marine energy sector in Wales, and helps us deepen our Celtic connections as this project draws on expertise and learning from the world’s first offshore tidal array – three tried, tested and monitored turbines installed in the Shetland Islands, Scotland.
“Transferring this knowledge and experience to North Wales will have far-reaching benefits, for communities, business, the sector and, crucially, for wider action on climate change. Following on from Wales’ Climate Week, it’s great to see the blue economy contributing to the green recovery with action translating to real progress in Wales’ bid to achieve net-zero.”
EDF Renewables (EDF R) has announced plans to develop a 49.9 MW solar farm at Tye Lane near Bramford.
A number of ecological and other feasibility surveys have been carried out and the company is now consulting with local people about the proposal ahead of submitting a planning application before the end of this year.
Amongst growing concern about climate change the 49.9MW Tye Lane project could contribute to saving around 16,700 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year. The project will also deliver significant additional local benefits. If planning permission is granted, a community fund of up to £10,000 will be paid annually (depending on the final size of the scheme) for the 35-year lifetime of the project.
Alongside solar, battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) charging are significant enablers for the UK’s goals to reach net zero by 2050 including transport. A solar farm at Tye Lane would underpin plans to install EV charging infrastructure nearby, directly benefitting local EV users by providing affordable, rapid charging.
EDF Renewables Director of Solar and Onshore Wind Development, Mark Vyvyan-Robinson said: “This is an excellent site for a solar farm, which is suitably sunny and with a nearby grid connection. EDF Renewables is an experienced renewables developer and Tye Lane is one of the first of a number of solar projects we have planned in the UK. This project will enable us to contribute to the UK’s green economic recovery from COVID-19 and help the country reach its net zero targets.”
The global pipeline of offshore wind projects has grown by 47% since January, new research has shown, with countries making huge investments despite the coronavirus pandemic.
The total capacity of projects that are operational, under construction, consented, in planning or in development stands at 197.4 gigawatts (GW), up from 134.7GW in mid-January, according to the Offshore Wind Project Intelligence report from RenewableUK.
Just over half (50.5%) of the pipeline is in Europe. Plans for 29 new projects – bringing the total to 67 – means the UK retains its top spot on the worldwide list, with a total pipeline of 41.3GW, up 12% since January. It has the largest operational capacity in the world, with 10.4GW.
“The global appetite to develop new offshore wind projects remains enormous, despite the pandemic this year, as this research proves,” said RenewableUK deputy chief executive Melanie Onn. “The UK and many other countries are counting on the rapid growth of the offshore wind sector to be a key driver in the worldwide green economic recovery.
“The UK remains the biggest market for offshore wind in the world and our capacity is set to quadruple over the course of this decade following the prime minister’s landmark commitment to power every UK home with offshore wind by 2030.
“As well as providing clean, low-cost power, our industry will continue to revitalise coastal communities, grow the UK supply chain and export our offshore wind goods and services around the world, as our unrivalled expertise is now in huge demand globally.”
China has leapt from fourth place in the global standings to second, with an 80% pipeline increase from 14.5GW to 26.1GW.
The US is ranked third, with 10% growth this year.
Germany has the second most operational capacity with 7.7GW, China is third with 4.6GW, Belgium fourth with 1.8GW and Denmark fifth with 1.7GW.
https://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/global-offshore-wind-projects-surge-by-nearly-50-in-2020