Two wind energy pioneers will work together to unlock the potential of floating wind energy in Scotland and deliver economic growth for the broader Scottish community.
Wind farm owner, operator and developer Falck Renewables, through its UK subsidiary Falck Renewables Wind Ltd (FRWL), and offshore wind experts BlueFloat Energy are set to jointly apply for one or more seabed leases in the Crown Estate Scotland’s ScotWind leasing round for offshore wind projects.
FRWL managing director Richard Dibley, said: “We have over 15 years of experience of working closely with local communities and the supply chain to deliver wind farms which share their economic benefit as widely as possible with the communities around them.
“This new project will marry our community-focused approach to developing onshore wind projects with the BlueFloat team’s impressive track record of delivering floating offshore wind projects. We are very much looking forward to developing new offshore wind projects that really benefit Scottish communities and manufacturers, providing jobs and economic prosperity.”
BlueFloat Energy’s CEO Carlos Martin said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with such a strong local player as Falck Renewables. We have very complementary strengths and competences, which puts us in a unique position to successfully deliver floating offshore wind energy projects in Scotland.
“By leveraging our experience of developing and executing the WindFloat Atlantic project in Portugal, the BlueFloat Energy team is able to bring insights into the key challenges and complexities of floating wind project development, financing and execution. Having Falck Renewables onboard with their unique set of capabilities, skills, and keen focus on community engagement, gives us great confidence that we can tailor our expertise to local requirements in Scotland.”
FRWL has been active in the United Kingdom since 2003. The company has ten wind farms around Scotland from Kilbraur in Sutherland to Assel Valley in South Ayrshire and has its operational headquarters in Inverness. It pioneered the co-operative ownership approach to wind farm development at its Boyndie Wind Farm and supports local investment, with co-operatives owning a stake in seven of its wind farms.
Founded by a team of floating offshore wind experts, BlueFloat Energy has some of the most extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in executing floating offshore wind projects of any project developer in the world. The same team successfully developed WindFloat Atlantic, the first floating offshore wind project worldwide to secure project finance. With a corporate vision of accelerating the global deployment of offshore wind as a key enabler for the energy transition and economic growth, BlueFloat Energy is currently developing offshore wind energy projects under a global mandate.
BlueFloat is backed by 547 Energy, the renewable energy investment platform of Quantum Energy Partners. 547 Energy aims to maximize value for its investors by partnering with leading entrepreneurs who are driving growth in the clean energy economy. Quantum Energy Partners is a leading provider of private equity capital to the global energy industry, having managed together with its affiliates more than $17 billion in equity commitments since inception.
Unlike more traditional bottom-fixed offshore wind technology, where the turbine is mounted on top of a structure piled into the seabed, floating wind projects use a floating foundation anchored to the seabed by mooring lines, allowing projects to be sited in deeper waters further away from the coast.
Ends
Issued by JMC Communications on behalf of Falck Renewables and BlueFloat Energy.
For more information contact:
Jenny MacPherson, JMC Communications
+44 7900 917143
