The Irish energy giant has signed a deal with Coriolis Energy to develop nine onshore windfarms, predominantly in Scotland, and the company is confident that the schemes will go ahead, even if the Conservatives form the next government and scrap subsidies for new onshore wind projects.
ESB’s onshore wind development is known to be driven by a strategic long-term view, which the company believes favours proceeding with the windfarms, rather than responding to short-term changes in the political landscape around subsidy support.
The company believes that all the projects are robust and economically viable and will go ahead even if the Conservatives are able to implement their plans. None of the schemes has yet been given planning permission.
The 2030 decarbonisation target forms the backbone of ESB’s 2025 strategy, which is to increase its UK generating capacity to 7GW, with 25 per cent coming from renewables.
Coriolis Energy managing director said he was also confident in the projects’ viability and told Utility Week he was “very optimistic” the projects would go ahead.
He said: “As an industry we will have to get on with it in whatever regulatory context they put in place”.
Sebastian Briggs, partner at legal firm Bond Dickinson, which acted on behalf on Coriolis Energy during the deal, added: “It is important that the energy industry continues to invest in renewable energy ensuring that the UK is able to secure our future energy needs.
“Whatever the outcome of the upcoming General Election, it is imperative that the next government sets out a clear energy policy and supports the renewable energy sector fully.”