Partners
The companies behind Barrow Offshore Wind
Barrow Offshore Wind Ltd. is the consortium behind the Wind Farm with the shares distributed equally between Centrica and DONG Energy.
DONG Energy
DONG Energy was founded in 2006 as the result of a merger involving six Danish energy companies – DONG Energy, Elsam, ENERGI E2, Nesa, Copenhagen Energy’s power activities and Frederiksberg Forsyning.
Activities
Before the merger, the six companies that now make up DONG Energy were active in different parts of the energy supply chain – from exploration and production of oil and natural gas, the generation of electricity at power stations and renewable energy facilities, to the distribution of electricity and gas. Their activities also included contacts with end-users, marketing, sales and energy consultancy.
Exploration and production
Since 1984, DONG has explored for and produced oil and natural gas and, as a state-owned company, has established Denmark’s natural gas infrastructure. In addition, DONG has established renewable energy facilities and, after the deregulation of the electricity market, has actively participated in energy trading.
Trading on North European energy markets
Concurrent with the deregulation of the energy markets in the EU’s Member States, DONG Energy has increased its own international activities significantly and is now an international energy company focusing on the North European energy markets.
Supplying electricity to North Zealand and Greater Copenhagen
Since the beginnings of power generation in the early 20th century, the three power utilities – Nesa, Copenhagen Energy and Frederiksberg Forsyning – have developed the power supply grid to include all of North Zealand, the city of Roskilde and Greater Copenhagen. Since the deregulation of the electricity market, the three utilities have also sold electricity and related services to customers outside the utilities’ own grid districts as well, and have further developed a powerful profile in the fields of energy consultancy, customer service and reliable energy supplies.
Power stations and international wind-power projects
Elsam and ENERGI E2 have been generating electricity for more than 50 years. Since the 1970s, both companies have converted their production processes and facilities. This has included switching from solely oil based to multi-tiered sources of energy, introducing the world’s most efficient coal-fired process and also recycling residual products from the process. These companies have amassed international cutting-edge expertise in wind energy and developed the use of waste and straw as energy resources.
DONG Energy is a partner in the 165MW Nysted offshore wind project in South East Denmark, one of the world's biggest offshore wind farms that commenced operation in 2003.
In the UK, DONG Energy is responsible for the development of Burbo Banks, an offshore wind farm in Liverpool Bay at the entrance to the River Mersey. DONG Energy is also involved in the development of the Walney Offshore Windfarm project in the Irish Sea. Close to this windfarm is West of Duddon Sands, a project also under development. Other development projects are Shell Flat (off Cleveleys, Lancashire), Scarweather Sands (Swansea Bay, west of Porthcawl) and London Array (Kent and Essex coasts, outer Thames Estuary).
For more information on DONG Energy visit www.dongenergy.com/en
Centrica
Centrica is better known to consumers through its British Gas brands, providing gas, power and related services to millions of customers in Britain and with operations in North America and continental Europe. It has expertise in gas production and electricity generation with assets across Britain, and strong connections with the Barrow area, owning and operating the nationally important Barrow gas terminals and neighbouring Roosecote power station.
In 2003, Centrica announced its intention to invest around £750 million in the development of renewable generation, primarily in the development of offshore wind farms. It also owns two consented 90 MW wind farms, Lynn and Inner Dowsing, which are to be built just off the Lincolnshire Coast in the Greater Wash.
Centrica has also begun the consenting process for three much larger and longer term developments in the Greater Wash, the 250MW Lincs, 500MW Race Bank and 500MW Docking Shoal projects.
In October 2004 Centrica acquired the 26 MW Glens of Foudland wind farm, near Huntly in North East Scotland. Commercial generation began in July 2005, more than a month ahead of schedule. For more information on Centrica’s projects visit www.centrica.com/renewables
