Statoil stress no decision has been made on Western Isles wind parks

The Norwegian oil firm Statoil, who are looking to drive forward plans for floating wind farms have refuted reports that the company is already committed to two massive wind parks in the Minch off the Isle of Lewis.

According to information made public on Saturday two sites are being examined by Statoil one off Fraserburgh in the north-east and the other in the North Minch, off Ness at the north end of the Western Isles.

The company’s Jannik Lindbæk went on the record to explain that Statoil are only running ‘a feasibility study’ to evaluate the possibilities of deploying a demo park of three to five windmills somewhere off the coast of Scotland, with Lewis being one of the locations in that study.

“£30 million scheme”

He continued that the demo parks would be placed far off the coast and would hardly be visible from the shore.

Statoil has built the first full-scale prototype of their floating windmill, which is anchored offshore at Karmøy in Norway.  It is already delivering power to the grid and the demo park being consideration would take that concept a step further.

However it has been stressed that no decision on the location has yet been made and that a full dialogue would take place before a decision was reached.

It has also been suggested that the turbines for any wind parks off Lewis could be built at the Arnish yard, just outside of Stornoway.

It was announced last year that the world’s largest wave farm is to be built off Lewis. The 4MW Siadar Wave Energy Project, which is to be constructed 400m offshore, will provide enough electricity to power about 1,800 homes.
The £30 million scheme, which is being developed is due to be completed by 2011

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