News

May 07, 2008

Shell’s Exit From The London Array Wind Farm Project Raises Doubts About The UK’s Ability To Meet Wind Power Targets

By Ivor Watt

Last week’s decision by oil and gas giant Shell to pull out of the London Array offshore wind farm project caused understandable consternation about the future of the project and, indeed, about the future of large scale renewables projects in the UK. It also drew down considerable scorn for Shell.

In terms of public relations, the timing could hardly have been worse, as Shell cited rising costs as the cause, just days after it published record results which showed profits of £4 billion for the opening three months of the year. Critics leapt on the withdrawal as proof of the cynicism of ‘big oil’ and the so-called ‘lip service’ it pays to developing renewable energy projects.

Undoubtedly the London Array is a hugely ambitious and potentially troublesome project. Shell, and partners E.On...