Ørsted plans to reuse gas platform to protect birds at UK offshore wind farm

Alpha Petroleum Resources and Energean signed a memorandum of understanding with Ørsted to consider repurposing the Wenlock gas platform off the east coast of the UK.

The platform is close to where Danish renewables giant Ørsted hopes to build a fourth Hornsea offshore wind farm. Its Hornsea One and Two projects are already online, and it received permitting approval for Hornsea Three late last year.

The companies believe the platform could reduce the impact development of Hornsea Four is expected to have on seabirds – particularly the black-legged kittiwake, which are known to already use the man-made structure to nest. 

It is understood that the top of the platform would need to be adapted in order to maximise the use of existing structural elements and the new nesting space created, whilst minimising the disturbance of already-nested birds.

Wenlock is scheduled to be plugged and abandoned in 2023.