Falck Renewables has teamed up with BlueFloat Energy to jointly apply for seabed leases for floating projects in the Crown Estate Scotland’s ScotWind offshore wind leasing round.
The collaboration will combine Falck’s track record in developing onshore wind projects in Scotland with BlueFloat’s experience in developing the WindFloat Atlantic floating wind project off the coast of Portugal.
The BlueFloat team is able to bring “insights into the key challenges and complexities of floating wind project development, financing and execution”, said company CEO Carlos Martin.
“Having Falck Renewables onboard with their unique set of capabilities, skills, and keen focus on community engagement, gives us great confidence that we can tailor our expertise to local requirements in Scotland,” he added.
Falck Renewables Wind Ltd (FRWL) managing director Richard Dibley said: “This new project will marry our community-focused approach to developing onshore wind projects with the BlueFloat team’s impressive track record of delivering floating offshore wind projects.
“We are very much looking forward to developing new offshore wind projects that really benefit Scottish communities and manufacturers, providing jobs and economic prosperity.”
FRWL has been active in the UK since 2003.
The company has 10 wind farms in Scotland, from Kilbraur in Sutherland to Assel Valley in South Ayrshire, and has its operational headquarters in Inverness.
The developer said it pioneered the co-operative ownership approach to wind farm development at its Boyndie Wind Farm and supports local investment, with co-operatives owning a stake in seven of its wind farms.
Founded by a team of floating offshore wind experts, BlueFloat Energy has “some of the most extensive knowledge and hands-on experience” in executing floating offshore wind projects of any project developer in the world, the company said.
The team successfully developed WindFloat Atlantic, the first floating offshore wind project to secure project finance.
BlueFloat is backed by 547 Energy, the renewable energy investment platform of Quantum Energy Partners, a provider of private equity capital to the global energy industry.