Wick harbour chosen for 750MW Beatrice

UK: Wick Harbour in the Scottish Highlands is set to serve as the operations and maintenance base for the 644MW Beatrice offshore wind farms after the signing of a memorandum of understanding.

Wick Harbour is likely to serve as the O&M base for Beatrice

The project developer, a joint venture between SSE Renewables and Repsol Nuevas Energias UK, said the port is likely to be chosen. However, a final investment decision is yet to be made on the project.

Beatrice was given the go ahead by consenting authority Marine Scotland in March and has been granted subsidies under the Contracts for Difference regime. Construction is expected to start in 2016.

It will be built in the outer Moray Firth off the North East of Scotland, 13.5 kilometres from shore.

Following a review of its offshore wind development portfolio, SSE announced a significant narrowing of its plans in March, with its sole near-term focus to be the Beatrice project,

While maintaining investment, and working towards a final investment decision, SSE will reduce its stake in Beatrice to 50% from its current 75% holding.