Scira Offshore
Energy and Norsk Hydro sign offshore wind power deal in UK
London,
UK (28th June 2005): Norsk Hydro ASA, (Hydro) together with Scira
Offshore Energy Ltd. (Scira) signed an agreement on Monday 27th
June 2005 to buy a 50 percent stake of Scira, a UK based wind power
company. The company Scira was established to develop the 315 megawatt
(MW) Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm off the coast of Norfolk
in the East of England.
Scira Offshore Energy
Limited is owned by UK based wind development and engineering company
SLP Energy and Dutch sustainable energy development company Ecoventures
BV. The 50 percent purchase by Hydro allows for both SLP Energy
and Ecoventures to each retain a 25 percent share of the company.
This agreement carries an option for Norsk Hydro to acquire a further
45 percent of the company which would raise the Norwegian energy
and aluminium company's stake to 95 percent.
"This is an important
step for Hydro in our efforts on international renewable energy,"
says Alexandra Bech Gjørv, head of New Energy in Norsk Hydro. “We
also see this as a sound investment thanks to the well functioning
certificates system initiated by the authorities to support wind
projects in the UK.”
Hydro, SLP Energy and
Ecoventures will provide the company with a strong team to finalise
the development of the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm by combining
both development, project management, engineering and utility derived
skills and experience.
Dirk Berkhout, Director
of Scira Offshore Energy Ltd. and Ecoventures BV stated, "Hydro
has a strong international presence with vast experience in the
development and management of large offshore projects." The
complementary skills that Hydro can bring to our company will provide
Scira Offshore Energy Ltd. with the fantastic opportunity to successfully
finalise the development of the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm.
David Edwards, Director
of Scira Offshore Energy Ltd. and SLP Energy stated: "We warmly
welcome Norsk Hydro to Scira Offshore Energy Ltd. Scira is now truly
a pan-European company that can deliver high rewards to the renewable
energy industry."
"Hydro aims to develop
a strong wind energy portfolio", says Bech Gjørv. "It’s
vital for us to position ourselves now in order to benefit from
the strong growth in offshore wind." Hydro consistently completes
difficult offshore oil and gas installation projects on time and
on budget. It has also been ranked among the most efficient offshore
operating companies in the North Sea.
Renewable Friendly UK
Renewable energy sources
in the UK currently generate just over three percent of the country’s
total electricity supply. About 30 percent of that comes from wind
energy. The UK aims to boost renewable energy generation to 10 percent
by 2010 and to 15 percent by 2015. The UK government has created
substantial market initiatives to encourage projects that support
its renewable energy goals.
"Wind energy is one of the best placed
technologies to help meet these targets," says Bech Gjørv.
The UK is amongst the windiest countries in Europe and accounts
for more than 40 percent of the available resource.
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