Red Rock-owned Inch Cape Offshore Limited has applied to Scottish ministers to vary the consent granted for the Inch Cape offshore windfarm
The company, which is ultimately owned by SDIC in China, has applied to increase the capacity of the windfarm from approximately 700 MW to 1.0 GW.
It plans to construct and operate an offshore windfarm approximately 15-22 km east of the coast of Angus in Scotland with an area of approximately 150 km2.
No amendments to physical parameters of the wind turbine generators or associated infrastructure are being sought through the amendment, which suggests that rather than using a new, larger turbine, it will use an upgraded version of the turbines identified in the amended plan for the project.
In 2014, Inch Cape was granted Section 36 Consent and Marine Licences to construct and operate an offshore windfarm with up to 110 turbines.
Inch Cape later submitted plans for the windfarm that would see fewer, larger, more efficient turbines installed then originally approved.
Unlike the latest application, that plan saw the number of turbines to be used reduce to 72 turbines from 110 via the use of fewer, taller and higher capacity turbines, significantly improving the efficiency of the windfarm.
The reduction in turbines also reduced the number of cables required and further reduced potential environmental impacts.
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