Funding and support for R&D: Clipper Windpower

Clipper Windpower’s £4.4m DECC grant will help to continue the development of blades for its “Britannia Project”, a 10 MW offshore wind turbine prototype in the UK. Scheduled for deployment in late 2011, Clipper’s 10 MW wind turbine is among the world’s largest under development.

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The Grant is issued by DECC is to stimulate the development and demonstration of offshore wind technologies and components for larger multi-megawatt turbines to enable their faster deployment to achieve the UK’s 2020 renewables energy target.

James Dehlsen, Chairman of Clipper Windpower, said:

“With the deployment of the 10 MW Clipper offshore turbine in UK waters, the nation will benefit from clean power, and also from the strong economic boost arising from the development and serial production of the turbines in the coming years. DECC’s leadership in initiating and expediting the Grant programme is timely and will help to accelerate our planning for and delivery of the Britannia project. We are appreciative of the support and look forward to the opportunity to continue to work closely with the DECC.”

The Britannia Project blade development is anticipated to take place at a new 4,000 m2 facility which Clipper expects to occupy on the River Tyne in the North East of England. Once constructed, each blade will be more than 70 metres long and weigh over 30 tonnes.

Clipper plans to utilise fully the emerging UK supply chain opportunities in developing the manufacturing process for the new 10 MW turbine. A fully operational Clipper 10 MW turbine will stand at 175 metres in height and, over its lifetime, is expected to displace the use of two million barrels of oil and offset the need to dispel 724,000 tons of CO2 into the earth’s atmosphere. Upon - serial production, the 10 MW turbines will be deployed initially in European waters.

The Crown Estate has agreed to purchase the Britannia prototype once developed. This investment will allow The Crown Estate to gain firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing the development of wind turbines specialised for deep water marine deployment required for Round 3.

The Britannia turbine is under development in response to the UK Government policy supporting the deployment of offshore wind turbines as a key element of meeting part of its targets for renewable energy generation required by 2020. The Crown Estate will award a further 25 GW of offshore wind zones which are likely to enter construction during 2016.

http://www.clipperwind.com/pr_091609.html

Making it Happen:

• Overview of UK Energy 
• The New UK Planning System for Renewable Projects 
• New Skills for the UK Renewables Sector 
• Development of UK Ports for Offshore Wind 
• Financial Support for Renewables Electricity in the UK

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