Seagreen explores next-gen goals

SSE and Fluor have kicked off scoping for a revised design at their 1050MW Seagreen Alpha and Bravo wind farm in the Outer Tay off the east coast of Scotland.

The partners want to boost in turbine size from 7MW to up to 15MW and a reduction in overall hardware numbers from 150 to between 70 and 120. 

The move was first reported by subscriber-only reNEWS in early June.

Separation distance would rise to 1km from 835 metres under the new plan.

SSE and Flour said revised designs are geared towards a potential 2022 build date, pending success in a future Contracts for Difference auction.

Seagreen is part of a trio of offshore wind farms in the Firths of Forth and Tay that are part of an ongoing legal action taken by RSPB against planning consent.

The bird charity has applied for an appeal against the consent to the Supreme Court.

Project company Seagreen Wind Energy said it has delivered the new scoping report to and requested a scoping opinion from the Marine Scotland licensing operations team for the proposal.

The scoping report identifies the potentially significant impacts associated with the proposed wind farm during construction, operation and decommissioning, Seagreen said.

It also details the proposed scope for the environmental impact assessment and eventual production of an environmental statement that will accompany consents applications.

Image: reNEWS