RSPB Scotland has given its backing to Hexicon’s 10MW Dounreay Trì floating wind demonstration project off the north coast of Scotland in a consultation response submitted to Marine Scotland.
The bird charity’s Scotland marine conservation planner Charles Nathan said floating offshore wind could play an important role in harnessing renewable energy.
Hexicon’s project “is an important first step in realising this potential”, he said.
“From our view, the benefit of floating devices is they can be located further offshore in deeper waters in areas which could present lower risks to marine wildlife, such as seabirds.
“As a result we anticipate that deep-water floating renewables could be delivered without undue risks to Scotland’s most precious natural marine sites and species.”
Hexicon wants to build two turbines that would sit on a 3000-tonne semisubmersible platform 6km off Dounreay.
A consent application has been filed and a final decision is required before 31 March next year to qualify for the 3.5 Renewables Obligation certificates on offer for floating projects in Scotland.
“We have, however, requested that a comprehensive environmental monitoring programme is implemented should the project secure consent, which will help us better understand how floating wind developments affect birds, other wildlife and the marine environment,” added Nathan.
Image: Hexicon
