Centrica and DONG Energy have formed a joint venture to co-develop offshore wind farms in the Round 3 Irish Sea Zone, which has a potential capacity of 4.2GW. The transaction will see DONG Energy pay Centrica up to £40 million in cash for a 50 per cent interest in the joint venture. DONG Energy will pay Centrica £15 million at closing of the transaction, with the balance payable in later years contingent upon consent being achieved for a project in the Irish Sea Zone and DONG Energy reaching a final investment decision for a project in the Zone.

The joint venture further cements the relationship between two of the UK’s leading offshore wind farm developers, which together have around 1GW of offshore wind capacity installed or under construction in the UK. Centrica and DONG Energy already hold joint interests in the Barrow and Lincs offshore wind farms.

The two companies will work together to develop different projects in the zone on a 50/50 basis with construction management of the projects alternating between the parties. For the first project under Centrica’s management, a final investment decision is expected in 2016.

Tags: Centrica plc, DONG Energy