DONG Energy and SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy plc) have entered into an
agreement whereby SSE acquires a 25.1% stake in the 367MW (megawatt) Walney
offshore wind farm which is being built 14km west of the Isle of Walney in the
Irish Sea. DONG Energy will retain a 74.9% stake.
To acquire the stake in Walney, SSE will pay to DONG Energy a total
consideration of up to approx. GBP 39 million (DKK 327 million) of which
approx. GBP 17 million (DKK 143 million) is subject to the operational
performance of the wind farm. As a shareholder in the project, SSE will pay
its pro rata share of the construction costs.
DONG Energy will be the leading partner in the construction and operational
phases of the development, and has provided SSE with financial guarantees
relating to the final construction cost of the project and its timely
completion.
Excluding the connection to the Great Britain electricity network (offshore
transmission assets which are to be owned by a specialised transmission
operator to be decided by the UK regulator), the cost of constructing Walney is
expected to total just under GBP 1 billion (DKK 8.4 billion). The project will
initially be funded by DONG Energy while SSE will contribute its 25.1% share of
the construction cost of the project (just under GBP 250 million (DKK 2.1
billion)) in two stages, when each phase of the wind farm is commissioned.
Anders Eldrup, Chief Executive Officer of DONG Energy, said:
“The partnership with SSE in the UK provides an opportunity for DONG Energy,
through its reduced share in Walney, to diversify risks and at the same time
utilise and further develop our offshore experience.
The UK is one of the primary markets for DONG Energy's wind development
activities now and in the near future. We are, therefore, very delighted with
the opportunity to team up with an experienced company like SSE.”
Ian Marchant, Chief Executive Officer of SSE, said:
“I believe this is an excellent agreement for SSE and for DONG Energy. DONG
Energy is one of the world's leading offshore wind farm developers with
extensive construction and operational experience. SSE is already the UK's
leading generator of electricity from renewable sources, with the largest and
most diverse portfolio.
Major offshore wind developments such as Walney benefit from a partnership
approach which blends the skills and experience of each party, and this
agreement between SSE and DONG Energy does exactly that.”
Walney will be constructed in two phases, each totalling 183.6MW, with
construction of the first phase due to begin in the spring of 2010 and of the
second phase in the spring of 2011.The wind farm is therefore expected to enter
commercial operation in two phases: during the first half of 2011 and towards
the end of 2011. DONG Energy will manage the construction of the wind farm with
Siemens supplying the wind turbines, the second phase of which will feature a
new 120 metre rotor.
The wind farm is expected to have an average load factor of around 43% and
produce around 1,300 GWh (gigawatt hours) of electricity in a typical year.
Under the UK government's current plans for its Renewables Obligation Scheme,
this output will qualify for 2.0 Renewable Obligation Certificates per MWh.
SSE and DONG Energy will market the output of the wind farm in proportion to
their equity stakes.
The content of this announcement does not alter the previously announced
expectations for the financial result for 2009 or the announced
expected level of investments.
For further information, contact:
DONG Energy
Media Relations
Ulrik Frøhlke
+45 9955 9560
DONG Energy
Investor Relations
Morten Hultberg Buchgreitz
+45 9955 9750
DONG Energy is one of the leading energy groups in Northern Europe. We are
headquartered in Denmark. Our business is based on procuring, producing,
distributing and trading in energy and related products in Northern Europe. We
have approximately 6,000 employees and generated more than DKK 60 billion (EUR
8.2 billion) in revenue in 2008. For further information, see
www.dongenergy.com.