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Statoil in search for wind sites | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Statoil is running a feasibility study for a potential demonstration site | |
A Norwegian company has started a search for suitable sites off the Scottish coast where it could run trials on offshore wind turbines. | |
Potential locations for up to five demonstrator turbines include in the sea off the Isle of Lewis. | |
BBC Alba understands state-owned Statoil has looked at eventually building two giant farms in the Minch off Lewis. | |
The firm would not comment on the bigger project. | |
Statoil spokesman Janni Lindbaek said it was running a feasibility study on the creation of a "demo park" comprising three to five turbines somewhere off the shores of Scotland. | |
He said: "We are evaluating several locations for this and off Isle of Lewis is one of these places. | |
"We would do that in order to study how we can scale this in the future, but what we are currently looking at is a demo park." | |
Floating turbines | |
BBC Alba has reported that eventually two giant wind farms could be built in the Minch. | |
One of the farms would be sited just off the Point area near Stornoway, while the other would lie further north between Ness and Cape Wrath. | One of the farms would be sited just off the Point area near Stornoway, while the other would lie further north between Ness and Cape Wrath. |
Statoil will hold a meeting on Lewis in two months time but some residents have already expressed opposition. | |
The 320 turbines over two sites would cover 115 square miles (300 sq km), BBC Alba understands. | |
Fishing boats and shipping would be excluded from the wind farms. | |
The 120-turbine development off Point would be close to shore, while the slightly larger development further north would be midway between the Butt of Lewis and Cape Wrath. | |
Statoil proposes to use floating Hywind turbines moored to the seabed. | Statoil proposes to use floating Hywind turbines moored to the seabed. |
Residents in villages overlooking the area say it would be too big, would spoil the view and there would be no return for onshore communities. | Residents in villages overlooking the area say it would be too big, would spoil the view and there would be no return for onshore communities. |
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