Deep-water wind turbines

, the international project management and services company, has been awarded a contract to design and manage delivery of the world’s first deepwater wind energy turbines in the

approximately 70 kilometres north east of

, eastern

.

The contract, for Talisman Energy (UK) Limited and partner Scottish and Southern Energy, is being partly funded by the Scottish Executive, the DTI and the European Union.

Two 5MW turbines will be sited in 45 metres of water. They are part of a demonstration programme to prove technical and commercial viability of deepwater offshore wind turbines.

The project will develop new technologies and processes to enable Europe to take a global lead in deepwater offshore wind farms. The scheme will involve leading research bodies across Europe, including Strathclyde and Aberdeen universities.

Deepwater wind farms are less visually intrusive than land-based or shallow-water wind farms. However, their remoteness presents a challenge in transmitting electricity back to shore. The turbines will be located near to Talisman’s Beatrice oilfield where existing infrastructure and connections will be modified to accept electricity from the turbines for onward transmission to shore. The field’s production platforms will also provide a base to carry out turbine monitoring and maintenance.