ACCIONA and SSE RENEWABLES, part of the UK-listed FTSE company SSE Plc, have signed an exclusive contract to develop offshore wind projects in Spain and Portugal. The companies will also jointly explore new perspectives in other potential markets.
ACCIONA and SEZ Renewables will form a joint venture (50-50 proportions) that will combine ACCIONA’s strengths as a developer and operator of onshore renewable energy installations (mainly wind and solar PV) with the skills and experience of SSE RENEWABLES in the development, construction and operation of leading in the world of offshore wind farms.
ACCIONA will also provide its grid integration capabilities, energy management technology through the Renewable Energy Control Center (CECOER) and know-how in offshore wind turbine engineering.
SSE RENEWABLES is a leading developer, constructor, operator and owner of offshore wind energy projects in the UK and Ireland. Its portfolio includes 487 MW produced in offshore wind farms and development plans for the largest offshore wind farm in Great Britain and Ireland with a total capacity of over 6 GW.
The company is currently building the world’s largest 3.6 GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the North Sea as a joint venture with Equinor and Scotland’s largest 1.1 GW Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm in the Firth of Forth as a joint venture with the company Total.
“After successfully establishing a global leadership position in onshore wind and photovoltaic technologies, our partnership with SEZ RENEWABLES will allow us to accelerate our entry into the offshore wind energy market where we see great potential,” said Rafael Mateo, CEO of ACCIONA’s Energy Division. “This is a natural step forward in our strategy to provide the best possible alternatives for customers looking for clean energy solutions.”
Jim Smith, Managing Director at SSE RENEWABLES, added: “I am pleased to conclude this exclusive agreement with ACCIONA. A partnership with a Spanish developer with an established position in the renewable energy market will enable SSE RENEWABLES to use its knowledge and experience in offshore wind energy to help Spain and Portugal implement their plan to become carbon neutral by 2050. It is also proof that we intend to develop our plans to build offshore wind energy infrastructure outside the UK and Ireland. ”