A new study has been launched by leading offshore wind developers in a bid to cut the cost of generating electricity from UK waters.
Aberdeen-based energy consultancy Xodus Group is to work with Cathie Associates and UTEC Geomarine to look at current offshore wind surveys and technology specifications to see if they are fit for purpose.
The study is part of a venture by the Offshore Wind Accelerator set up by the Carbon Trust and nine leading energy developers as a joint project looking to cut development costs.
The survey comes as a number of offshore wind projects have been shelved amid fears over mounting costs, including the £5billion Argyll Array project and the proposed expansion of the landmark London Array in the Thames Estuary.
The consortium will also look at how to mitigate risks for cables linking the offshore turbines to the grid.
“The consortium has a wealth of experience across the offshore wind and oil and gas sectors, applying industry best practice in the assessment of survey information, assessing cable risk and specifying appropriate equipment in order to reduce the risks for installed offshore infrastructure,” said Xodus low carbon director James Hunt.
Developers including Dong, E.ON, RWE Innogy, ScottishPower, SSE and Vattenfall are taking part in the joint initiative, which will use a benchmark windfarm to test cost benefits to the industry through proposals from the study.
