Total has emerged as the latest player in offshore wind in the region - as it prepares to exit the Humber refining cluster.
The French oil major is furthering its credentials in renewable energy, partnering with Green Investment Group to deliver a 1.5GW farm immediately east of the estuary’s mouth, about 75km from Grimsby.
Having processed what was found beneath the seabed for more than 50 years, attention is rapidly turning to the wind harvested above.
Named in the Round Four successful leasing announcement, published this week, it is not the only fossil fuel giant making the transition, with BP joining them as part of a trio of leases in the North West.
Two more farms will also be built in the Dogger Bank zone off the North East coast by RWE Renewables - the company behind Triton Knoll.
Julien Pouget, Total’s senior vice president for renewables, said: “Total is delighted to have been awarded 1.5 GW as part of the fourth round of offshore wind leases from The Crown Estate with our partner GIG. We continue to support the energy transition goals of the 海角视频.
“This project is our largest renewables development in Europe to date and an important step toward our 2050 net zero ambition. This success builds on our historical expertise in the 海角视频 offshore and is paving the way to expansion of our renewable energy offering in the country in line with our strategy of becoming a broad-energy company."
As reported, Prax Group - the company behind Harvest Energy - has entered into an agreement to buy Lindsey Oil Refinery at North Killingholme. Completion is anticipated soon.
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Investor Macquarie Group, behind Green Investment Group, acquired the government-launched Green Investment Bank in 2017, five years after it was created to aid financial support. It has invested in 5GW of 海角视频 offshore wind - almost half of the 海角视频 installed capacity - including Lincs, Lynn and Inner Dowsing, Race Bank and Westermost Rough in the Humber, several of which are alongside co-owner and operator Orsted.
Total’s first involvement in offshore wind came with the 1.1GW Seagreen project off the east coast of Scotland and in Erebus, a 96MW floating offshore wind project in the Celtic Sea, as it leveraged its long-standing industrial activity in the 海角视频.
GIG and Total are currently partnering in South Korea to co-develop a major portfolio of floating offshore wind projects.
Mark Dooley, global head of Green Investment Group, said: “With this investment, we’re continuing our pioneering role in the 海角视频’s energy transition, and helping to establish offshore wind as the backbone of its new low-carbon energy system.
"Building on our track record as one of the country’s largest funders of offshore wind, this represents a significant increase in our commitment to the 海角视频’s offshore wind sector. This adds to our growing portfolio of renewable developments in Europe and grows our global offshore wind development portfolio to over 13GW."
The venture has been awarded this lease for an annual option fee of £83,000 per MW/year, during the development phase. There will now be a Habitat Regulations Assessment of the possible impact of the project on relevant nature conservation sites in the allotted area. Following a successful conclusion of that process the final agreements for lease will be signed sometime in 2022.
That would open the door to planning applications for onshore and offshore infrastructure requirements, ahead of entering into subsidy auctions - Contracts for Difference - before financial investment decisions are made.
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A total of 8GW was announced in the new round. All would eclipse the current largest operational farm, Hornsea One (1.2GW) and its successor, Hornsea Two (1.4GW) - which is now in construction. It has drawn criticism that supply of seabed leases does not meet demand to build.
On the sale, a spokesperson for Total said: "Total will continue to work with Prax over the coming weeks to conclude the deal to sell Lindsey Oil Refinery.”