The developers of the Moray West offshore wind farm in Scotland reaffirmed their commitment to the project, despite failing to secure a contract for difference in the U.K. government's latest auction.
The wind farm, being developed by a joint venture of EDP - Energias de Portugal SA subsidiary EDP Renováveis SA and Engie SA, gained marine consent in June. After missing out on a contract for difference this time, the developers are now looking to the next auction round, slated for 2021, with a view to starting construction in 2024.
"Despite this setback, it is a significant achievement to get the project to such an advanced stage in a short period of time," said Dan Finch, director of project company Moray Offshore Windfarm (West) Ltd. "We're confident that Moray West is able to become a key piece of Scotland's energy transition story."
The adjacent 950-MW Moray East project won a contract for difference in 2017's auction, which set the price of power generated at £57.50 per MWh. The most recent auction round saw nearly 5,500 MW of offshore wind projects awarded contracts at prices significantly below the market rate for electricity.
