Latest news with #GreenVolt
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
TGS Commences Ultra-High Resolution 3D Seismic Survey for Green Volt Wind Development
London, United Kingdom (06 June 2025) – TGS, a leading global provider of energy data and intelligence has commenced a geophysical survey for the pioneering Green Volt floating offshore wind farm. Mobilization initiated in Aberdeen last week and the work scheduled throughout June will include an ultra-high resolution 3D (UHR3D) seismic survey used to deliver detailed subsurface data for the floating wind farm's site characterization. The Green Volt project is a joint venture between leading offshore wind developers Flotation Energy and Vårgrønn. As Europe's first commercial-scale floating windfarm at 560 MW, the project is a catalyst for developing a highly specialized UK floating wind supply chain. Utilizing integrated Multibeam Echo Sounder, Side Scan Sonar, Sub-bottom Profiler and Magnetometer sensors, the advanced survey will enhance geological understanding and provide critical insights for the project's site planning and risk assessments. Spanning the full lifecycle from acquisition planning to imaging and interpretation, this campaign for Green Volt will support employment opportunities across the UK, where TGS maintains a significant presence. TGS has 3 offices in the UK with over 200 employees. Offshore survey crews, geophysicists and onshore geoscientists will be engaged throughout the project, ensuring the delivery of high-quality processed data and data will provide detailed understanding of the subsurface conditions, revealing potential risks and challenges that are not always accurately captured through traditional 2D data interpolation. The enhanced data collection will help the Green Volt project team identify geological hazards and structural complexities, contributing to improved site assessment and risk mitigation strategies. This, in turn, will form a reliable foundation for the project's ongoing planning and execution. By leveraging the latest acquisition configurations, TGS will enhance efficiency and improve target resolutions to meet the highest industry standards. Commenting on the start of this survey, TGS EVP New Energy Solutions, Will Ashby, said: "This represents a key milestone for TGS to utilize our expertise, technology and resources to support the development of the first commercial floating offshore wind farm, Green Volt. This simultaneous acquisition of all sensors and the application of our cutting-edge processing techniques is reinforcing our commitment to delivering industry-leader data solutions. UHR3D will be a key aspect to developing floating wind farms.' Matt Green, Project Director for Green Volt said: 'Green Volt is pleased to be working alongside TGS on these important geophysical site surveys, which will not only advance our project but will also further develop our understanding of how the UKCS subsea offshore landscape can support deeper, larger windfarms as we continue to develop our industry. Accurate data is vital component in our learning and will help strengthen the UK's floating wind supply chain. This contract supports local jobs and innovation, helping to build a world-leading offshore wind sector right here in the UK.' About TGSTGS provides advanced data and intelligence to companies active in the energy sector. With leading-edge technology and solutions spanning the entire energy value chain, TGS offers a comprehensive range of insights to help clients make better decisions. Our broad range of products and advanced data technologies, coupled with a global, extensive and diverse energy data library, make TGS a trusted partner in supporting the exploration and production of energy resources worldwide. For further information, please visit ( For media inquiries, contact: Bård StenbergIR & Business Intelligence investor@ About Green VoltGreen Volt is set to become Europe's first commercial scale floating offshore wind farm, located approximately 80 kilometres off the northeast coast of Scotland. Jointly developed by Flotation Energy and Vårgrønn, the project will feature up to 35 floating wind turbines with a total capacity of 560 megawatts. Once operational, Green Volt will provide clean power to the UK grid and facilitate the electrification of participating oil and gas platforms. Developed under Crown Estate Scotland's Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing round, Green Volt aims to reduce carbon emissions by one million tonnes per year, significantly contributing to the UK's and Scotland's net-zero targets. The project has secured all necessary planning approvals and, in September 2024, was awarded a Contract for Difference (CfD) by the UK in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Guardian
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Potential role for Chinese firm in key UK windfarm attracts government scrutiny
Ministers are weighing up proposals for a Chinese company to supply wind turbines for a major offshore windfarm in the North Sea. The government is in discussions with Green Volt North Sea over whether Mingyang, China's biggest offshore wind company, should supply the wind turbines. Mingyang has emerged as the preferred manufacturer, but the company has sought advice from ministers on whether to proceed. Green Volt, which is jointly owned by Flotation Energy, a Scottish company and Vårgrønn, a Norwegian one, is constructing the first commercial-scale floating offshore windfarm in Europe. The project will deliver electricity to oil and gas platforms, replacing power currently generated by gas and diesel turbines, and provide electricity to the UK grid. The decision over whether to source its wind turbines from Mingyang will be closely scrutinised after the government stepped in to take control of British Steel amid claims that its Chinese owner, Jingye Group, wanted to shut down its Scunthorpe plant to make the UK a dumping ground for Chinese steel. The incident triggered calls for Chinese companies to be locked out of involvement with critical national infrastructure. Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, said at first that he would not bring another Chinese company into the British steel sector before softening his position. Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, travelled to China earlier this spring to discuss closer cooperation on energy and climate. The decision over whether Mingyang can supply the turbines is not subject to any formal government process, but the company is unlikely to proceed if ministers say they have security concerns. The Sun reported three months ago that some officials in the Ministry of Defence and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero had raised concerns about the proposed deal. Green Volt has been waiting for a verdict from the government for weeks, according to people familiar with the discussions. An industry source said the UK did not currently have the heavy manufacturing capability to produce the turbines domestically. 'They have tried to get European manufacturers to no avail,' the source said of Green Volt. 'Miliband is on to something here. We all want to get to where he wants to get to, but if it's not from Chinese companies, who is going to [supply wind turbines] to us?' The project would be an important contributor to the government's mission to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Progress towards that suffered a blow this week when the Danish company Ørsted cancelled its plans to build one of the UK's largest offshore windfarms, the Hornsea 4 project. Ministers are hopeful that Ørsted will return to the table, however. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Mingyang has also come under scrutiny in Germany, where it is supplying wind turbines for the Waterkant offshore windfarm. The Guardian contacted Mingyang for comment. A Green Volt spokesperson said: 'We are developing the largest commercial-scale, floating offshore windfarm in the world, working to hugely ambitious timelines to deliver the government's goal of 43-50 GW of offshore wind by 2030. Having secured a contract for difference from the government last year, we are identifying supply chain partners to help us build the windfarm. As yet, no turbine supplier has been confirmed for Green Volt. We will comply with any government regulation and guidance around security of critical national infrastructure in the selection of all our suppliers.' A government spokesperson said: 'We would never let anything get in the way of our national security, and while we would not comment on individual cases, investment in the energy sector is subject to the highest levels of national security scrutiny. 'We are undergoing rigorous processes to look at the role of China in our supply chain and investment in critical infrastructure – taking into account the national security considerations, as well as our need for investment in the supply chain.'
Telegraph
28-02-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Ed Miliband to visit China amid wind farm security fears
Ed Miliband is preparing to visit China for talks about closer energy cooperation despite growing concerns over Beijing's involvement in British infrastructure including wind farms. The Energy Secretary will reportedly fly out from March 17 to March 19 as he seeks to secure potential investment in UK projects. He will meet Wang Hongzhi, head of China's National Energy Administration, according to Reuters. Mr Miliband would be the third cabinet minister after Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, and David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, to visit Beijing amid efforts by Labour ministers to establish more cordial relations with the world's second-biggest economy. A spokesman for Mr Miliband's department declined to comment on 'speculation'. It comes as he is seeking to drum up investment for wind farms, solar farms, batteries and other energy projects in Britain, as the Government races to deliver its promise of a 'clean' power system by 2030. But the attempt to thaw diplomatic relations comes at a sensitive time, with a cross-Whitehall review of UK-China relations underway. Green Volt concern This month, MPs also raised concerns about Chinese involvement in a major wind farm project which is said to have rung alarm bells in the Ministry of Defence. Mingyang Smart Energy, which is based in China, has been selected to provide the turbines for the Green Volt floating offshore wind farm, off the coast of Scotland. But MoD officials are said to have warned that the turbines, equipped with an array of sensors, could be used for spying or give Chinese engineers 'a legitimate excuse to visit any time for maintenance' and 'install almost anything they like'. Andrew Bowie, the Conservative shadow energy secretary, said there was a risk that the 'green revolution will come with a 'made in China' label'. While in Beijing, Mr Miliband will reportedly seek to revive talks known as the UK-China Energy Dialogue. These were started under the last Conservative government and covered 'clean energy technologies, civil nuclear energy, power market reforms and third country activity'. However, the talks stalled when Theresa May's administration made clear there would be no further Chinese involvement in any nuclear power stations after Hinkley Point C, in Somerset, owing to security concerns – infuriating Beijing. Nuclear will remain off the table in the latest discussions between Mr Miliband and Mr Wang, Reuters said. Labour officials have said they want to improve UK-China ties, following a hot-and-cold relationship under the Conservatives. As prime minister, David Cameron declared relations had entered a 'golden age' in 2015, following a high point that saw Chinese Premier Xi Jinping tour Britain on an official state visit. But just less than a decade later, Rishi Sunak branded Beijing the 'greatest state-based threat' to the UK's economic security following Chinese cyber attacks on infrastructure and warnings from the security services that Beijing was seeking to meddle in British politics.
The Independent
13-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Starmer raises UK concerns with Chinese foreign minister as he visits London
Sir Keir Starmer met with China's foreign affairs minister as he visited London, Downing Street has said. The Prime Minister briefly attended a meeting between national security adviser Jonathan Powell and Wang Yi, who is in the UK ahead of the Munich Security Conference. David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, welcomed his counterpart to London on Thursday as the Government seeks a warmer relationship with Beijing in order to drive investment into the UK. A No 10 spokesperson said Sir Keir had 'dropped in' to the meeting and 'underlined his intention to build a consistent and respectful relationship between the UK and China'. The Prime Minister 'reiterated that the UK will always engage frankly on the areas where our views differ as part of the stable and regular engagement this Government is committed to maintaining with China', No 10 said. Sir Keir is understood to have raised the UK's ongoing concerns about human rights in China, during his brief appearance at the meeting. As Mr Lammy welcomed his counterpart to the Foreign Office, he said the UK and China's relationship should be 'consistent, strategic and in both of our countries' long-term interests'. It is important that we use channels such as this for robust but constructive discussions, as we are both members of the UN Security Council. We will be better able to understand each other and each other's perspectives Foreign Secretary David Lammy But the Foreign Secretary also addressed British concerns about China, adding: 'We will also discuss issues where the UK and China do not always see eye-to-eye. In some cases the UK does have significant concerns. 'It is important that we use channels such as this for robust but constructive discussions, as we are both members of the UN Security Council. 'We will be better able to understand each other and each other's perspectives.' Mr Lammy later wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the UK continues to challenge China, adding: 'From Jimmy Lai's imprisonment, to human rights, Hong Kong, unwarranted sanctions on UK parliamentarians and more.' The Government has been warned in recent months of the security risks posed by the Chinese state as ministers seek to strengthen trade ties. The Ministry of Defence is said to be among the Government departments which have warned of the risks of allowing a Beijing-based firm to participate in building the Green Volt North Sea wind farm, according to The Sun newspaper. Ministers are also being pressured to not allow a new Chinese embassy to be built near the Tower of London, amid concerns it could be used for spying purposes. Human rights groups have urged ministers to keep up the pressure on Beijing over a crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong and the reported abuse of the Uighur Muslim minority in the north-west Xinjiang province. Amnesty International UK's head of campaigns, Felix Jakens, said the 'pursuit of trade must not inhibit frank conversations on human rights' ahead of Mr Wang's visit. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden, who has been dubbed the 'real deputy prime minister' because of his influence within Government, is understood to have spoken about the Government's Plan for Change when he joined talks at the Foreign Office. The Government document includes its pledge to stimulate growth in the UK economy, part of which would come from foreign investment.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Miliband's net zero revolution is enriching China – and putting Britain at risk
Fifty miles off the north east coast of Scotland, an armada of floating offshore wind turbines is about to make history. The Green Volt wind farm will be the largest of its kind in Europe, spearheading Ed Miliband's pledge to turn the UK into 'a clean energy superpower.' Once built, its 35 turbines north east of Aberdeen will generate enough electricity for some 300,000 homes and pave the way for a string of similar developments. But this is not a story of British or European engineering ingenuity. The Green Volt turbines will instead be made by Mingyang Smart Energy, which is based in China. Mingyang is just one of many Chinese companies whose arrival – some say takeover – of the UK energy transition has raised fears about national security, energy security and the likely damage to Britain's economy as manufacturing skills and jobs move to East Asia. The company's involvement has also raised the hackles of the Ministry of Defence, with sources suggesting that Chinese turbines, each equipped with hundreds of sensors and floating off the British coast, may pose a security risk. 'If a Chinese company supplies the turbines they have a legitimate excuse to visit at any time for maintenance,' a source told the Sun newspaper. 'That means they can install almost anything they like.' On Wednesday, Andrew Bowie, Conservative MP and the shadow Scotland secretary, said: 'The indication that Mingyang will get the green light to supply wind turbine technology to the Green Volt wind farm is concerning. 'This green revolution will come with a 'Made in China' label.' Junior energy minister Kerry McCarthy acknowledged that national security concerns had been raised, but told the Commons that there were 'robust processes' in place to ensure any risk in the Green Volt North Sea farm was minimised. She said: 'We have discussions with a wide range, variety, of international investors, but we do absolutely recognise this needs to be balanced against national security implications, and that is something that we work on constantly across Government.' Ms McCarthy also defended engaging with China, adding: 'We absolutely need to attract the investment that we need to meet our clean power mission to secure our future energy security and in the long run bring down bills for the British people. We need to balance national security concerns in tandem with that.' China's growing role in the UK energy and other systems has long raised concerns – although the focus previously has been on nuclear power and telecoms. In 2020, the government ordered telecoms network operators to strip all technology made by China's Huawei from the UK's 5G public networks by the end of 2027. Similarly, in 2022, the Conservative government spent £700m to buy China out of the Sizewell C nuclear power venture in Suffolk, citing security fears. Yet China has still been encouraged to pour money into other forms of UK energy, both through direct investment and by domination of the supply chain. For example, the last government encouraged China's State Development and Investment Corporation to invest in the Beatrice offshore wind project, off Scotland's east coast, along with the larger Inch Cape offshore wind project. Meanwhile Shanghai-listed Ningbo Orient Wires & Cables – known as simply Cable Orient – was brought in to lay massive power cables between the Scottish islands of Skye and Harris, as well as mainland Scotland and the Orkney Islands. Elsewhere, China's national oil company, CNOOC, operates the UK's largest offshore oil field, Buzzard, and takes much of what is produced directly to China. The Buzzard platform will also be among the customers of the Green Volt floating wind farm, as part of plans to reduce its carbon emissions. Green Volt is small – but it's a first. And it gives Chinese companies such as Mingyang a foothold on the UK's massive planned expansion of floating wind farms, which will aim to power 8m homes. Further south in Scotland, the refinery at Grangemouth, near Edinburgh, is controlled by Petroineos, a joint venture between PetroChina and Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos. The plant, which has kept Scotland moving for decades by supplying most of the country's petrol, diesel and jet fuel, is now being shut down. On Wednesday, Christine Jardine, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, close to Grangemouth, questioned Mingyang's involvement in the Green Volt scheme in Parliament. Running turbines and cable systems on Chinese software risks leaving the UK vulnerable to a remote switch-off, she warned. 'There are security issues involving [Chinese] companies involved in offshore renewable developments,' she said, pointing out that Mingyang has its sights set on further projects in the North Sea and is in line to receive £60m of support from the SNP-run government in Scotland. Jardine is just the latest critic to express such concerns. Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, last month warned that the UK Government's target of producing 95pc of the UK's electricity using clean energy technologies 'hands power to Beijing'. Dan Marks, an energy security expert at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), suggests China's growing involvement in UK energy poses three interconnected threats. The most immediate is to national security. But the more insidious is the risk to UK supply chains, as China's workforce takes over the jobs and skills once held by British employees. Despite this, Marks suggests we only have ourselves to blame. China's success is partly down to the ruling communist government's 'Made in China' strategy, which makes no secret of its goal to dominate the industries of the future. It has involved massive state procurement as well as heavy subsidies. 'China is reaping the benefits of moving earlier and faster to create a market at scale and shielding it from international competition,' Marks adds. 'Europe, the UK and the US have failed to create a comparable demand for clean energy technologies or to secure access to the Chinese market, leaving their industries lacking investment, scale and, consequently, competitiveness.' The scale of China's dominance in some parts of the renewable energy supply chain is nonetheless staggering. In the case of solar panels, for example, the rest of the world now relies 'almost completely' on China, according to the International Energy Agency. While only 36pc of panels made worldwide are used in China's grid, its shares of polysilicon, ingot and wafer manufacturing will soon reach about 95pc of global capacity. To a lesser extent, China also leads the world in wind turbine production. It controls about 64pc of the global value chain in wind, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. Beneath this headline figure its dominance of certain components is even higher, such as gearboxes (80pc), converters (82pc), generators (73pc) and castings (82pc). Why are wind farm developers so tempted to buy Chinese? WindEurope, an industry trade body, says it is only partly because Chinese usually means cheaper. A bigger reason is that they usually give deferred payment terms that Western rivals are not allowed to offer, meaning the cost is bourne after their turbines come online and start making a profit. But whatever the savings, Giles Dickson, WindEurope's chief executive, has warned that long-term losses could be even greater – in both economic and geopolitical terms. The group calculates that Europe's wind energy industry contributes €42bn (£35bn) a year to European GDP – with every turbine generating £11m of economic activity. 'By turning one's back on equipment designed and manufactured in Europe we increase our dependency on equipment from outside,' Dickson said at a conference in 2023. 'That undermines our energy security. And it rather contradicts the lessons we've just learnt from our previous dependency on Russian gas.' He has warned of hidden security issues as well. 'There are 300 sensors on a modern wind turbine,' he said. 'The data from those sensors should be stored and analysed exclusively in Europe.' RenewableUK, the UK's wind industry trade body, suggests the UK is too open to Chinese firms – with little reciprocal access for UK firms in China. 'We need to ensure that all companies are operating on a level playing field,' says Dan McGrail, its chief executive. 'By focussing on manufacturing high value offshore wind components, we can boost the UK's economy by £25bn over the next 10 years and create tens of thousands of jobs.' China's domination of manufacturing also angers trade unions such as Unite in the UK, where just 2pc of the steel used in offshore wind turbines over the past five years was produced domestically. 'We are set for massive expansion in offshore wind, as well as new technologies such as green hydrogen,' a spokesman says. 'But the jobs are in manufacturing, and our wind industry is dominated by multinationals and foreign governments.' Unite says the UK's high energy prices must also be tackled to address the problem. Amid complaints that the green revolution has so far failed to benefit domestic manufacturers significantly, the Government has begun making moves to bring more production to the UK. 'The biggest risk to our energy security is staying dependent on fossil fuel markets,' a spokesman says. 'Investment in the energy sector is subject to the highest levels of national security scrutiny – we take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing relations with China.' On Thursday, Miliband announced a 'clean industry bonus', providing taxpayer support to offshore wind companies that create green jobs in areas once dominated by oil and gas. Kerry McCarthy, his junior minister, told the Commons: 'The biggest risk to our energy system and our energy security is remaining dependent on international fossil fuel markets controlled by petrostates and dictators, and that's why we have a mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower – to end that dependence.' Bold words – but China is a dictatorship too. It may not have any oil but is putting Chinese companies such as Mingyang at the forefront of the UK's energy transition any wiser than relying on a petrostate? The risk remains that Miliband will indeed be helping create a clean energy superpower. But it won't be us. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
