Aberdeen Bay Wind Farm

Aberdeen Bay Wind Farm
Location of Aberdeen Bay Wind Farm in Scotland
Country Scotland
Location Aberdeen Bay
Coordinates 57°13′N 1°59′W / 57.217°N 1.983°W / 57.217; -1.983Coordinates: 57°13′N 1°59′W / 57.217°N 1.983°W / 57.217; -1.983
Status Proposed
Owner(s) European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre
Wind farm
Type Offshore
Distance from shore 3 km (2 mi)
Power generation
Units planned 11
Nameplate capacity 100 MW

Aberdeen Bay Wind Farm is a proposed offshore wind farm to be located around 3 kilometres off the east coast of Aberdeenshire, in the North Sea, Scotland. It is being developed by the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre consortium.[1] The scheme consists of 11 wind turbines with an installed capacity of up to 100 megawatts.[1] It is to be located between Blackdog and Bridge of Don near Aberdeen.[2]

Planning

The wind farm was initially proposed by the Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) in 2003.[3] The original plan was for 20 two-megawatt turbines in an eight kilometres long row about 1 kilometre offshore.[3] A geological survey of Aberdeen Bay was begun in 2007,[4] and a grant of 40 million euros was offered by the European Commission in 2009.[2] The proposal at that stage was for a maximum of 23 turbines.[2]

A planning application was lodged in August 2011.[5] The application was submitted by Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) in cooperation with two other companies, Vattenfall and Technip.[5] The proposal was for 11 turbines.[5] Planning consent was granted by the Scottish government in March 2013.[6]

In May 2013 Vattenfall announced plans to reduce its stake in the project.[7] In October 2013 Aberdeenshire councillors rejected a planning application to build an electricity substation.[8] In December 2013 it was announced that construction would be delayed for two years, with connection of the grid occurring in 2017.[9] In January 2014 an appeal against the substation vote was lodged.[10] The developers won the appeal in July 2014.[11]

Vattenfall decided to proceed with the 92 MW wind farm in July 2016.[12]

Objections by the RSPB

In 2006 RSPB Scotland expressed concern about the effect the wind farm and Donald Trump's golf course would have on the wildlife on the Aberdeenshire coast.[13] In 2011 the RSPB called for "more planning, research and monitoring ... to ensure we truly understand the impact this site may have on local birds."[14] By 2012 the RSPB dropped opposition to the wind farm following the reduction in the number of turbines and a change in the layout."[15]

Objections and lawsuit by Donald Trump

American billionaire Donald Trump purchased a large part of the Menie estate near the village of Balmedie in 2006. He proposed to build a golf course, with a hotel, holiday homes and a residential village.[16] He expressed his concerns about the wind farm in April 2006 stating that "I want to see the ocean, I do not want to see windmills."[13] In September 2011 the Trump Organization filed an objection to the planning application.[17]

In May 2013 Trump launched a legal challenge against the Scottish government's decision to grant planning permission for the wind farm.[18] The hearing began at the Court of Session in November 2013,[19] but was rejected in February 2014.[20] An appeal against the decision was heard at the Court of Session in January 2015,[21] but Trump lost the appeal in June 2015.[22] After the decision Trump said he would appeal before both the Supreme Court of the UK and the European Courts.[22] Trump was unanimously found to be the loser of the case by the UK Supreme Court in December 2015.[23]

References

  1. 1 2 European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre, Vattenfall, retrieved 29 July 2014
  2. 1 2 3 Offshore wind farm given EC boost, BBC News, 7 May 2009
  3. 1 2 Offshore wind farm plan unveiled, BBC News, 15 September 2003
  4. ↑ Sea survey for offshore wind farm, BBC News, 5 July 2007
  5. 1 2 3 Wind farm project application for Aberdeen Bay, BBC News, 5 August 2011
  6. ↑ Consent for Donald Trump row wind farm announced, BBC News, 26 March 2013
  7. ↑ Aberdeen wind farm partner Vattenfall to reduce stake, BBC News, 10 May 2013
  8. ↑ Plans for wind test centre off Aberdeen suffers setback, BBC News, 29 October 2013
  9. ↑ Offshore wind farm plan opposed by Donald Trump is delayed, BBC News, 5 December 2013
  10. ↑ Energy giant to appeal rejection of £230m Aberdeen Bay wind farm, STV, 14 January 2014
  11. ↑ Substation near Donald Trump golf course to go ahead, BBC News, 23 July 2014
  12. ↑ http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-36854835
  13. 1 2 Fears over Trump's golfing plans, BBC News, 24 May 2006
  14. ↑ RSPB Scotland objection to Aberdeen offshore wind farm, BBC News, 1 November 2011
  15. ↑ Donald Trump in fresh Aberdeen wind farm attack, BBC News, 5 October 2012
  16. ↑ First look at Trump plan for 'world’s best course', HeraldScotland, 16 February 2010
  17. ↑ Donald Trump sends wind farm complaint to Alex Salmond, BBC News, 14 September 2011
  18. ↑ Donald Trump launches legal challenge to wind farm decision, BBC News, 16 May 2013
  19. ↑ Donald Trump challenge to Aberdeenshire wind turbines begins, BBC News, 12 November 2013
  20. ↑ Donald Trump loses court battle against offshore wind farm, The Daily Telegraph, 11 February 2014
  21. ↑ "Trump and windfarm team face courtroom battle over Aberdeen turbines plan". Evening Express. 20 January 2015.
  22. 1 2 Billionaire Donald Trump loses legal battle over offshore wind farm, STV, 5 June 2015
  23. ↑ Trump International Golf Club Scotland Limited v The Scottish Ministers [2015] UKSC 74

External links

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