No strangers to lucrative means of producing energy, the money men of the Middle East are now looking towards the renewables sector for cleaner ways of making a profit.
A company based in Abu Dhabi has bought a 20 per cent stake in London Array offshore wind farm, which is set to be one of the largest in the world.
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The planned 1,000 MW project in the Thames Estuary off the Kent and Essex coasts could power three quarters of a million homes.
Masdar and energy firm E.ON recently announced the joint venture recently and representatives from both firms were meeting government ministers at Downing Street to discuss the project.
E.ON said it was hoped the first stage would be completed in 2012 and would consist of up to 175 turbines.
Before the deal was made, E.ON owned half of the wind farm project and DONG Energy owned the other half.
Masdar bought 40 per cent of E.ON’s share, giving it a 20 per cent stake in the whole enterprise.
E.ON chief executive Dr Wulf Bernotat said: “We have secured in Masdar a strong partner to work with us on the London Array scheme and on future renewable energy projects which will help push the industry to its next stage.”
Chief executive of Masdar, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, said: “London Array is an important investment for Masdar into the wind sector.
“We believe that the offshore wind market will be a major force in the future and this is a very opportune time for us to enter this developing segment of the renewable energy market.”
