Fid Financial Close

In December 2006, E.ON UK received final approval for the construction of the 180 MW Robin Rigg offshore wind farm in the Solway Firth off the coast of England. This decision marked the transition of Robin Rigg from development into the execution phase, authorising construction of what was expected at the time to be the United Kingdom’s largest offshore wind farm, with 60 turbines of 3 MW each. The project was initially targeted for completion around spring 2009, reflecting E.ON UK’s strategy to expand its renewable generation portfolio alongside other wind and biomass investments in the UK energy market. Subsequent reporting by E.ON UK confirms that, following this approval, construction of Robin Rigg did in fact commence, with the company’s 2007 annual report stating that construction of the offshore wind farm in the Solway Firth was underway. That report reiterates the 180 MW capacity, 60-turbine configuration and indicates an expected completion in the second quarter of 2009, consistent with the earlier spring 2009 timetable. The move into construction demonstrates that the necessary internal and external clearances, including financial commitment, had been secured to proceed with full-scale build-out in line with E.ON UK’s broader programme of significant investments to improve and decarbonise its UK generation capacity.