Tycoon Donald Trump has made a fresh attempt to block plans for a windfarm in Aberdeen Bay following Lady Clark’s landmark ruling.
The Scottish Government has backed the 11-turbine European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre, but the Trump Organisation lodged a legal challenge at the Court of Session in Edinburgh in May.
The US businessman has vowed to block the £230million scheme and wants judges to reverse the government’s decision.
The Trump Organisation’s petition for a judicial review is due to be called at the court in Edinburgh for a fixed four-day hearing from November 12.
And in light of Lady Clark’s ruling on the Viking Development in Shetland, Mr Trump’s legal team has now moved to block a key part of the centre’s infrastructure.
Lady Clark found that Viking Energy and partner SSE had failed to get an electricity generating licence and that proper consideration was not given to the European Wild Birds Directive.
It emerged last night that backers of the EOWDC do not hold an electricity generating licence.
The Aberdeen bay windfarm requires a substation, planned for Blackdog, to feed power to the National Grid.
The plans are currently being considered by Aberdeenshire Council.
Mr Trump’s legal representatives have now asked the local authority to suspend its consideration of the plan until the full implications of this week’s ruling are understood.
The Trump Organisation’s international development director, George Sorial, said the judge’s decision was a potential game-changer for the industry.
“While it is not appropriate for us to comment on pending litigation at the Court of Session, we are studying Lady Clark’s ruling very closely,” he said.
“It is clear that her legal opinion will have a broad and long-standing impact on the wind energy sector.”
The EOWDC, a joint venture developed by Aberdeen Offshore Windfarm Ltd with partners Vattenfall, engineering firm Technip and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group, involves erecting 11 turbines less than two miles from Aberdeen.
Vattenfall put its 75% stake in the test centre up for sale earlier this year after a slump in its profits.
A EOWDC spokesman said: “Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm Ltd does not hold an electricity generation licence.
“AOWFL is aware of the recent ruling, and we are monitoring the situation and considering any implications this may have in respect of our proposal.”
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