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Britain turns to floating turbines to tap into ‘remarkable’ wind speeds

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Financial Times or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Dan Jackson, an ex-oil and gas engineer, is pioneering the use of floating turbines off the Scottish coast. His company, Cerulean Winds, plans to develop a network of floating wind farms, aiming to contribute significantly to the UK's offshore wind power generation

🔭 The context: Floating turbines can be installed in deeper waters than conventional turbines, allowing access to areas with higher wind speeds
This technology is crucial for the UK's target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and could account for over half of the 100 gigawatts offshore wind power target.

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The project, expected to be operational by 2028, will initially supply clean electricity to North Sea oil and gas platforms
As fossil fuel extraction declines, it will increasingly send excess power to the mainland, marking a significant shift in sustainable energy generation.

⏭️ What's next: The sector's growth depends on upcoming government subsidy contracts and the first commercial-scale floating wind auction by the Crown Estate
These events will be critical in advancing the sector from pilot projects to large-scale commercial operations.

💬 One quote: "Floating offshore wind is a new frontier." - Dan Labbad, Chief Executive of the Crown Estate.

📈 One stat: The UK currently has two small floating wind pilot projects operational, representing more than a third of the installed global capacity for floating turbines.

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