MORL to open consultations on offshore wind project development this month

Moray Offshore Renewables (MORL) is planning to open a consultation for the development of wind farm on the remaining area of Outer Moray Firth.

MORL won the development rights for offshore wind development in Zone 1 (Moray Firth) in 2010 from The Crown Estate.

MORL divided the site into two sectors namely Eastern and Western Development Area.

Initially, it developed proposals Eastern Development and in 2014 MORL received consents from the Scottish Government for 1,116MW, which catered the electricity needs of approximately 700 000 households.

Now, MORL has opened consultation on proposals to develop the Western Development area.

EDPR Offshore director Dan Finch said: "We worked hard to deliver a high-quality project in the Eastern Development Area, with no impediments to its construction.

"All that we need to proceed is a contract which will enable us to sell power in the reformed electricity market, and we look forward to the UK Government announcing the next ‘Contract for Difference’ (CfD) auction, which will allow us to compete for the contract which will let us deliver the project.

It is reported that the development of the Western area of our site will help increase the generation of renewable energy in the zone which was allocated by the Crown Estate.

According to EDPR, the development is expected to create a pipeline of offshore wind projects in the Moray Firth, and associated opportunities for the local economy.

Finch further noted: "MORL received considerable support from local communities as we developed the Eastern Area of our site. We will be returning to those communities with events this summer which will be announced in the local press. This will help to establish the level of support for the development of the Western area of the zone.

"I look forward to continuing to working with all of the individuals and organisations who have an interest in the Moray Firth; their participation is vital to the successful and sustainable delivery of new infrastructure."