Energy firm SSE, formerly known as Scottish and Southern Energy, has announced its intention to triple its capacity for renewable energy generation over the coming decade.
In the Firth of Forth, the firm is already developing the Seagreen offshore windfarm in partnership with French energy major Total, which will be Scotland’s largest windfarm. SSE also expects to soon make a final decision on the Dogger Bank windfarm, which will be located off the coast of North East England. This 3.2 gigawatt wind farm, which will be built in cooperation with Equinor, Norway’s state oil company and a leader in wind-based energy generation, will be the world’s largest offshore windfarm.
SSE Chief Executive Alistair Phillips-Davies pointed to renewable energy investment as a means to stimulate the economy and create jobs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. He added:
“We’ve led from the front on the green recovery, creating more than 1,000 jobs through our low-carbon projects and with more to come as we support efforts to build back greener. And with clear policy signals from government and the regulator, we can do more.”
Offshore wind power has become increasingly competitive in recent years thanks to advances in technology and the development of specialist lubricants like the Mobil SHC Gear 320 WT gear oil, which is formulated to protect wind turbine machinery, even in harsh marine environments. The UK Government also intends to invest £12 billion in the green economy in an effort to stimulate further private investment in renewable energy.
