United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Crown Estate releases Atlantic Array data

UK: The Crown Estate has published data collected from the abandoned Atlantic Array project on its Marine Data Exchange.

Data from Atlantic Array surveys has been released by the Crown Estate
Data from Atlantic Array surveys has been released by the Crown Estate

A variety of information gathered includes marine and avian wildlife surveys, onshore substation studies and noise monitoring studies.

The 1.2GW Atlantic Array project was scrapped last year by German developer RWE after it found technical challenges at the site, which were not economically viable to overcome at the time.

The Crown Estate, which manages the UK sea bed, said it is the first time the information from a Round Three offshore lease has been gathered into one place and made publically available.

Dermot Grimson, head of strategy and policy at the Crown Estate, said the sharing of data would support further research and aid the development of the UK's marine environment.

RWE killed off its involvement in the 1.2GW Atlantic Array offshore wind farm in the Bristol Channel, western England, in November 2013 after spending five years and an estimated £13 million (EUR 15.6 million) on the project.

At the time, RWE said it needed to conduct a proper study of the area. A spokesman said: "These things take time, we would have known a certain amount of info upfront but it's not until you get the technical surveys that you know. Once done that's an incredibly accurate picture."

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