Although not officially announced by the Crown Estate, the next round of huge UK offshore wind energy sites have been informally allocated to wind energy developers behind the scenes.
The 10,000 Megawatt Doggerbank area over 50miles east of northern England is rumoured to have been ringfenced for the consortium giant made up of RWE npower, Scottish and Southern Energy, Statkraft and Statoil Hydro known under the umbrella “Forewind”.
Scottish Power and Vattenfall are believed to be favourites for 5000 Megawatts in the wider Wash area, off the Norfolk coast.
Mainstream Renewable Power is the surprise non- utility winner, bagging 2500 Megawatts off the Humber in the north of England.
Other rumoured licenses include the Bristol Channel for RWE npower and as yet unknown licenses for the Irish Sea, Hastings, Isle of White and east coast of Scotland.
A spokesperson in the offshore wind industry said: “Everyone is poised for the official announcement- developers, manufacturers, suppliers of vessels, ports, recruitment consultants.. it is a very exciting time”. Utilities and other wind energy companies in discussions with the Crown Estate are currently bound by strict confidentiality agreements.
