Newsroom Archives - Inch Cape Wind

Capacity cap removed for Inch Cape offshore wind project

July 29, 2021 by Fiona Milligan

Scottish Ministers have agreed to vary the section 36 consent granted to Inch Cape Offshore Ltd – removing the 1000MW maximum generating capacity of their 72-turbine offshore wind project located off the Angus coastline.

The variation of consent does not increase the number of turbines and will not affect any of the other permissions or consents currently in place.

Commenting on the variation, Adam Ezzamel, Project Director, Inch Cape Offshore Wind Ltd, said:

“This is an important part of getting the project into shape as we look to compete in the auction for government-backed contracts for renewable energy later this year. Whilst this doesn’t change the number of turbines we can deploy, or maximum tip heights, it will allow us to use the most powerful wind turbines on the market, meaning we can produce more power at an even lower cost for consumers from the same overall layout.

“The auction is going to be incredibly competitive and likely to see a further reduction in the cost of offshore wind, so we need to optimise every single aspect of the project if we are to succeed.”

The decision notice can be found in the Library.

Dolphin Spotters Wanted!

June 8, 2021 by Fiona Milligan

Do you like nothing better than gazing out to sea, to see what you can see? If so, you may be able to help with a fascinating project being undertaken up and down the North Sea coastline!

Citizenfins is looking for your photographs of bottlenose dolphins! For years these amazing marine mammals have been viewed off the east coast of Scotland, particularly in places like the Moray Firth and the Firth of Forth, but recently this population has expanded south into English waters!

Inch Cape Offshore Ltd is delighted to be helping fund the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) with this work. To expand on their dedicated survey programme SMRU need your help to monitor the bottlenose dolphins! They’re looking for your photos, taken off South East Scotland and along the North East coast of England, of the dolphin’s dorsal fins to help understand the extent of the range expansion. Further information is available in this leaflet and to learn more about the long-established photo ID project monitoring the Moray Firth bottlenose dolphin population visit their website https://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/citizenfins

Red Rock Power Appoints Inch Cape Project Director As It Commits To Building Wind Farm

November 6, 2020November 18, 2019 by Laura-Jane Cameron

Adam Ezzamel to steer project as development moves forward

Red Rock Power Limited has appointed Adam Ezzamel as Project Director of the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm as it moves forward with development. He brings over 10 years of experience working on and leading major UK and Scottish offshore wind projects including Aberdeen Bay and Neart na Gaoithe and will lead the Inch Cape project team.

Guy Madgwick, CEO of Red Rock Power Limited, said: “Inch Cape is a strong, viable proposition and we are committed to completing the wind farm. Adam’s appointment comes as we look to accelerate our plans and his experience will prove invaluable as we continue to progress with the project.”

Inch Cape – owned by Red Rock Power subsidiary, Inch Cape Offshore Limited – is consented for up to 72 turbines off the Angus Coast and has an existing grid connection at Cockenzie in East Lothian.

Adam added: “I’ve been very impressed with the Inch Cape development, both as an outside observer and as part of the delivery team. In Inch Cape lies significant opportunities and I look forward to working with the team, supply chain and stakeholders as we work towards bringing the wind farm to fruition.”

Inch Cape Wind Farm Granted Consent for Improved Offshore Proposal

October 29, 2020June 18, 2019 by Laura-Jane Cameron

Development reaches key milestone ahead of CfD bid
New plans will see fewer, more efficient turbines installed 15km off Angus coastline in East of Scotland

Inch Cape Offshore Limited (ICOL) has secured consent from the Scottish Government for its alternative wind farm proposal submitted last August. The project reaches this key milestone as it prepares to bid in the third Contract for Difference (CfD) funding allocation round later this month.

The new design for up to 72 turbines is an improved alternative to ICOL’s original consented design (for up to 110 turbines) which was previously secured in 2014. The new proposal sees fewer but taller and higher capacity turbines, significantly improving the efficiency of the wind farm. This reduction, which would also reduce the number of export cables required, provides an opportunity to significantly cut construction time and costs to the end user. The new design, with less infrastructure requirements, also further decreases the risk of potential environmental impacts.

Ben King, Offshore Consents Manager at ICOL, said: “The opportunity to propose an alternative design, which will see significant economic benefits and reduced risk of environmental impacts, is testament to how new technologies are continuing to transform the industry and bring improved benefits to the consumer. Securing approval is a key step forward ahead of our CfD bid and while our previous consent remains valid, the progression of our plans and work over the last few months very much focused around this new design.”

In a further step forward for the project, ICOL is currently conducting the second phase of its offshore site investigation in the Outer Firth of Tay and Firth of Forth following initial works at the end of 2018. The investigation has so far completed geotechnical studies and is expected to finalise a geophysical survey in July, with seabed data informing the next detailed design phase of wind farm.

The development is expected to bring at least £558m and 858 jobs* to the UK economy during construction through the local supply chain. ICOL is currently finalising its assessment for the location of its Operations and Maintenance base at a local port on the East Coast, which will bring further considerable economic benefits to the local area for the duration of the wind farm.

ENDS

*Based on the lowest generating capacity considered in the application. The final design may allow for a greater generating capacity and therefore this would have greater benefits on the economy.