Duke drops wind turbine project
Duke Energy Carolinas had planned to install three wind turbines in the Pamlico Sound under a collaboration with the University of North Carolina. The company and the university hoped to study the potential for wind power generation off the state's coast.
But Duke Energy said the fixed costs from obtaining permits, designing and constructing the small-scale project would be high. Duke said that the cost of the first turbine would be $88 million, with the second costing $14 million.
"The cost of the project simply exceeds the benefits our customers would receive if we were to continue," said Paul Newton, senior vice president of strategy for the company's franchised businesses.
Construction in shallow water would also have potentially disturbed underwater vegetation more than originally expected, the company said.
The company and university will instead focus on the study of larger scale, offshore wind farms, which Duke Energy said would be more commercially viable. That includes a $405,000 Duke Energy contribution to UNC's coast wind oceanside study.
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Scottish North Sea wind farm to resume construction after Covid-19 stoppage
GLASGOW - Neart Na Gaoithe (NnG) Offshore Wind Farm, owned by EDF Renewables and Irish firm ESB, stopped construction in March.
Project boss Matthias Haag announced last night the 54-turbine wind farm would restart construction this week.
Located off Scotland’s east coast, it was awarded a Contract for Difference (CfD) in 2015 and will look to generate enough energy to power 375,000 homes.
It is expected to create around 500 jobs while also delivering £540 million to the local economy.
Mr Haag, NnG project director, said the wind farm build would resume with a small, staggered workforce return in line social distancing rules.
He added:…
