Trump says windfarm progress is 'ludicrous'

Donald Trump has remained defiant over the offshore windfarm to be built near his Aberdeenshire golf course claiming it was 'ludicrous' to suggest the green energy scheme was moving ahead.

Donald Trump has had a long running battle with the Scottish Government over the placement of offshore wind farms near his Aberdeenshire golf course. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Key suppliers have now been announced for the 11-turbine European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC), to be sited less than two miles off the coast at Aberdeen Bay.

Preparatory offshore works were completed at the site earlier this year with hopes the scheme will be operational by the end of 2018.

It comes after Trump lost his Supreme Court bid in December to overturn the Scottish Government’s approval of the project, which he claims will spoil the view from Trump International Golf Links at Menie.

Donald Trump arrives at Menie for a visit last month. PIC Kirstie Topp/Johnston Press.

It was third time the tycoon used the courts to try and halt the bid after raising an action in the Court of Session in 2013 and then appealing its judgement in 2015.

Trump has now vowed to continue his fight against the development in the European courts.

A statement from the Trump Organization in New York said: “There are 16 planning conditions that have not yet been purified and we are challenging every one of them.

Donald Trump arrives at Menie for a visit last month. PIC Kirstie Topp/Johnston Press.

“As we have stated in the past, we will continue to fight this proposal in the European courts. Any claims that this project will be moving forward are ludicrous in light of the political uncertainty surrounding Brexit and a lack of investment to support a project that has languished in the planning process for years.”

In 2013, Vattenfall, the Swedish energy firm, said it would try to sell its 75% stake in the joint venture company behind the EOWDC, while another partner, Technip, pulled out altogether.

However, Vattenfall, which has sold a number of concerns, has since said it would have the money to pursue the project.

An investment decision later this year.

Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm Limited (AOWFL) – the company behind the scheme – has now named three of its preferred suppliers to work on the project.

Vattenfall and project partner Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) said the appointments keep the project on schedule.

Adam Ezzamel, project director for the EOWDC at Vattenfall, said he was “pleased” about progress being made in naming suppliers.

He added: “Their support delivers the project partners’ commitment to accelerating the development of wind energy and cost reduction through innovation and collaboration.”

It is estimated that, once up and running at full capacity, the development would be capable of yielding, on average, enough clean, green electricity to power the equivalent of over 68,000 UK households over a 12-month period.

Chair of AREG and Aberdeen City Councillor, Jean Morrison, said: “The EOWDC is a crucial project for the region and for Scotland.

“Aberdeen is a world-class hub of innovation and this will place our region at the heart of the development of new technologies and contribute to improving the competitiveness of the offshore wind sector. It will add to our existing energy capability including the skills and infrastructure required to build a 21st Century energy industry.”

Trump was described as “three times a loser” by former First Minister Alex Salmond after the tycoon’s Supreme Court defeat.

Trump, whose relationship with Mr Salmond has become increasingly acrimonious, described Mr Salmond as “an irrelevance” following the comments.

The US presidential candidate last visited his Aberdeenshire course in late June when he enjoyed a private dinner with media baron Rupert Murdoch and his wife Jerry Hall.

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