Acciona and
SSE Renewables (part of UK FTSE-listed SSE plc) have signed an exclusivity agreement to develop offshore wind power projects in Spain and Portugal. The companies will also jointly explore further opportunities in other potential markets.
The two companies will establish a 50-50 joint venture (JV) that will combine Acciona’s strength as developer and operator of onshore renewable facilities ( mostly wind and photovoltaic) with SSE Renewables’ skills and experience in the development, construction and operation of some of the world’s leading offshore wind farms.
Acciona will also provide its grid integration capabilities, its energy management technology through its ‘Renewable Energy Control Centre’, and its know-how in engineering applied to offshore wind turbines.
SSE Renewables, which is a leading developer, constructor, operator and owner of offshore wind energy projects throughout the UK and Ireland, has an offshore wind portfolio of 487MW; and at over 6GW, the company also has the largest offshore wind development pipeline in the UK and Ireland.
Moreover, it is currently constructing the world’s largest offshore wind farm, the 3.6GW Dogger Bank wind farm in the North Sea (a JV with Equinor), as well as building Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm, the 1.1GW Seagreen Offshore wind farm in the Firth of Forth (a JV with Total).
Jim Smith, SSE Renewables’ managing director, said: “I am delighted to be entering into this agreement with Acciona. Partnering with a well-established Spanish renewable developer will enable SSE Renewables to bring its offshore wind expertise to help Spain and Portugal achieve their ambition of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. It also demonstrates our intent to build our strong wind energy pipeline beyond the UK and Ireland.”