Kincardine Phase 2

Kincardine Offshore Windfarm Phase 2 Profile

Location

The Kincardine Offshore Windfarm is located approximately 15 kilometers off the southeast coast of Kincardineshire, Scotland, in the Aberdeen Bay. The project area spans 110 square kilometers in water depths ranging between 60 and 80 meters.

Project Overview

Kincardine Offshore Windfarm is the world's largest floating offshore wind farm. Phase 2 of the project is a significant expansion of the initial phase.

Turbines and Capacity

• Phase 2 of the Kincardine Offshore Windfarm consists of five wind turbines, each with a capacity of 9.5 MW. These turbines are of the Vestas Offshore Wind V164-9.5 MW model.
• The total capacity of Phase 2 is approximately 47.62 MW, contributing to the overall project capacity of 49.625 MW when combined with the 2 MW turbine from Phase 1.

Foundation Technology

• The wind turbines in Phase 2 are installed on semi-submersible foundations, specifically the WindFloat™ design produced by a Navantia-Windar joint venture. These foundations are moored via four mooring lines each.

Environmental Considerations

• The project has a comprehensive Environmental Management Plan (EMP) that outlines environmental monitoring and mitigation strategies. This includes noise level monitoring, avoidance of sensitive fish and shellfish habitats, and the presence of trained marine mammal observers during construction activities. Cable installation was split over two years to minimize impact on breeding birds.

Construction and Operation

• The construction of Phase 2 began with the fabrication of the five WindFloat® units in 2019, and the turbines were installed in 2020.
• The project became fully operational in 2021.
• Cobra Wind International, a subsidiary of Cobra Group, was responsible for the engineering, procurement, construction, installation, and commissioning of the project.

Power Purchase Agreement

• The power generated from Phase 2 of the Kincardine Offshore Windfarm is sold to Statkraft under a power purchase agreement for a period of 8 years starting from 2021.

Ownership and Contractors

• The project is currently owned by Pilot Offshore Renewables with a 100% stake, although Cobra Group was the main developer and investor.
• Vestas Offshore Wind is the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) contractor for the wind power project for a period of 10 years.

Energy Production and Impact

• The Kincardine Offshore Windfarm, including Phase 2, generates over 218,000 MWh of electricity annually, which is enough to power approximately 55,000 households. This also offsets around 94,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

Design Life and Maintenance

• The design life of the wind farm is 25 years. Regular bathymetry surveys and other monitoring activities are planned to ensure the long-term integrity of the project.

Licensing and Regulatory Approvals

• The project received various licenses and approvals from the Scottish Government, including a Section 36 Consent Decision in 2017, Marine Licences for construction and operation, and an EPS License application in 2021.