Weybridge, UK – January 17, 2022 – Crown Estate Scotland announced that Thistle Wind Partners (TWP), a consortium of DEME Concessions (Wind) NV (42,5%), Qair Marine SAS (42,5%), and Aspiravi International NV (15%), had been awarded 2GW worth of option areas in Scotland’s, highly competitive ScotWind seabed leasing process.
The consortium’s successful projects are:
- Cluaran Deas Ear: a 1 GW fixed foundation project in the 187 km2 E3 plan option area;
- Cluaran Ear-Thuath: a 1 GW floating foundation project in the 201 km2 NE2 plan option area which is envisaged to be developed in two phases.
To ensure a robust project delivery, TWP conducted an extensive assessment of the environmental and technical aspects of the ScotWind project sites. Focused technology optioneering, evaluation of grid capacity development, and a comprehensive risk mitigation plan were undertaken to secure fast tracked and de-risked developments at a pace that shall accelerate even more now that the projects have been selected.
Thistle Wind Partners will bring together its partners’ solid and complementary offshore wind development backgrounds characterised by fast-track delivery, stakeholder involvement, supply chain engagement, innovation in promising technologies, cost control and containment. .
Contribute to the acceleration of the energy transition in Scotland.
For Thistle Wind Partners, local content is a key focus . The consortium intends to work hand in hand with the Scottish government as well as with local communities, and businesses to help develop related supply chain and expertise.
In the coming months, TWP will be actively engaging with government authorities, fellow developers, communities, and businesses, to fully understand local capabilities and define ways to work together, with a particular focus on breaking down barriers to new entrants to the job market, creating new skilled and energy transition job , and ensuring through investment that Scottish ports are ready and in the best position to seize an offshore wind pipeline of opportunities.
“We are delighted to have secured two projects in such a competitive leasing round. Following extensive efforts over the last two years to submit successful ScotWind leasing bids, we will continue with this focused effort to deliver our projects as promptly and cost effectively as possible whilst actively engaging with the local stakeholders and the supply chain. DEME consider these projects as a platform to increase our strong position in Scotland and the wider UK building further on the recent successful implementation of the 950 MW Moray East Project by DEME Offshore” said Kristof Van Loon, General Manager of DEME Concessions
“This award is a great success for Thistle Wind Partners. Our teams will be fully dedicated to deliver, with the help of local stakeholder, two state of the art innovative projects, thus participating actively to help Scotland reach its ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. Our involvement in such large offshore projects is a perfect reflection of Qair Group’s strategy to become a local independent leading player said Louis Blanchard, President of Qair.
”We are delighted that we can develop with TWP 2 offshore wind farms. The Aspiravi Group is already involved with several Belgian offshore wind farms, so the project with TWP is a nice extension of our activities and will also expand our knowledge and experience. We are convinced that the development of these projects will be successful for all parties involved“ said Rik Vandewalle, Managing Director of Aspiravi Holding.
About DEME Group and DEME Concessions
DEME is a world leader in the specialised fields of dredging, solutions for the offshore energy industry, infra marine and environmental works. The company can build on more than 140 years of know-how and is a front runner in innovation and new technologies. DEME’s vision is to work towards a sustainable future by offering solutions for global challenges: a rising sea level, a growing population, reduction of CO2 emissions, polluted rivers and soils and the scarcity of natural resources. DEME can rely on 5,200 highly skilled professionals and a modern fleet of over 100 vessels.
Part of DEME Group, DEME Concessions, oversees the Group’s broad-ranging and diverse concessions in the fields of renewables (wind, wave and tidal), marine infrastructure and ports, dredging, green hydrogen and special projects.
About Qair
Qair is an independent renewable energy producer, developing, building, and operating (as of December 2021) 650 MW of onshore and offshore projects for more than 30 years. Active in 17 countries across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia, Qair is developing in Scotland more than 250 MW of onshore wind and solar projects with its partner Eco Power. Our ambition is to become a local independent energy leader.
Qair Marine, the subsidiary of Qair Group dedicated to the development of Renewable Marine Energies, is a pioneer in sectors such as floating wind power with EolMed, a 30 MW floating wind farm off the coast of Gruissan in the Mediterranean sea, and tidal power with FloWatt, the Alderney Race / Raz Blanchard pilot tidal turbine farm.
About Aspiravi
The Aspiravi group is an independent producer of exclusively renewable energy with a track record of 20 years. Since 2002 we are creating a more sustainable environment by realizing green energy projects which contribute to the numerous climate goals on renewable energy. This by means of the development, construction and exploitation of wind farms onshore (207 wind turbines) and offshore (172 wind turbines) and 2 biomass plants. All installations in which the Aspiravi group is involved today, generate green electricity and heat for about 1.5 million families and avoid CO2 emissions of almost 2 million tonnes per year.
Contact DEME
Wouter Piepers
piepers.wouter@deme-group.com
T: +32 3 253 30 49
Contact Qair
Group Communication
communication@qair.energy
Contact Aspiravi
An Schaubroeck, Communication & Marketing Manager
an.schaubroeck@aspiravi-holding.be
+32 56 70 27 36
Photo : Nicholas Doherty