RWE Innogy abandons 1.2-GW Atlantic Array wind project

Nov 26, 2013 - RWE Innogy, the renewables unit of German RWE AG (ETR:RWE), today said it would drop the 1.2-GW Atlantic Array wind project in the Bristol Channel as it is not viable at the time.

The company said it had reached the decision after intensive research of the Round 3 Bristol Channel Zone. “Overcoming the technical challenges within The Bristol Channel Zone would be uneconomic for RWE at this time,” said Paul Cowling, head of offshore wind at RWE Innogy.

RWE Innogy’s request to terminate the deal for the zone has been accepted by the Crown Estate. The company will surrender the option for the Atlantic Array project, removing its seabed rights. It noted that in the future when offshore wind technologies have evolved further, challenging areas such as the Bristol Channel may become more attractive.

The RWE subsidiary will channel its efforts into less technically challenging projects in its offshore wind pipeline of nearly 5.2 GW, Cowling added.

In March RWE reduced the number of turbines at the proposed wind farm from 278 to 240, thus cutting its maximum capacity from 1.5 GW to 1.2 GW. The facility was estimated to produce enough power for up to 900,000 households.

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