Vattenfall has joined forces with other developers in the Carbon Trust’s Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA) programme. Established in 2008, the OWA is a joint industry project aimed at reducing the costs of offshore wind by 10% by 2015. It seeks to identify and commercialise innovations in pursuit of this goal.
Jens Madsen, head of wind power research and development at Vattenfall, said: "By signing up with the OWA, Vattenfall is demonstrating its commitment to delivering UK offshore wind potential and significant cost reduction." It joins E.ON, DONG Energy, Mainstream Renewable Power, RWE Innogy, ScottishPower Renewables, SSE Renewables, Statkraft and Statoil in the programme.
Phil de Villiers, head of offshore wind at the Carbon Trust, said: "Bringing down the cost of offshore wind is an absolute priority for the industry. We believe that industry collaboration on key innovation projects that offer scope for dramatic cost reduction is the best way to go. We are therefore delighted that Vattenfall has decided to join the OWA".
Among Vattenfall's existing UK assets is the 150MW Ormonde offshore wind farm, in the Irish Sea. It also has a 50% stake in the consortium developing the East Anglia Round 3 zone. It is partnering Scottish Power in the 7.2GW development.
The OWA is two-thirds industry funded and one-third funded by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
