Canadian energy company Enbridge has joined the Rampion offshore wind project by acquiring a 24.9 percent interest, becoming one of the three shareholders in Rampion Offshore Wind Limited.
E.ON will remain the controlling shareholder at 50.1 percent, with the UK Green Investment Bank plc (GIB) continuing to hold a 25 percent interest.
E.ON and Enbridge are already partners in the Magic Valley wind farm located in Texas and the Wildcat wind farm in Indiana, U.S. Enbridge holds an 80 percent interest in both 200 megawatt onshore projects; both are operated by E.ON.
Ed Northam, Head of Investment Banking, UK Green Investment Bank , added: “Securing Enbridge’s first investment in offshore wind is a major success for Rampion and the wider development of green infrastructure projects in the UK. The company’s background in North American renewables and pipelines complements the expertise of the existing shareholder group. Our collective experience will help realise the successful construction and operation of the wind farm.”
The 400MW Rampion offshore wind farm will be located in the English Channel, 13 kilometers off the Sussex coast south of Brighton, is expected to supply the equivalent of up to 300,000 homes with clean power and to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 600,000 tonnes a year.
E.ON will manage construction and operation of the Rampion offshore wind farm, which is expected to be fully operational in 2018.
Image: Rampion Offshore Wind Farm