A group of leading offshore wind companies and funds have today announced their joint participation in Crown Estate Scotland’s ScotWind leasing process. The NextGen consortium, led by Quaybridge Scotland, Parkwind and Maple Power is backed by a number of strategic partners including BlackRock Real Assets and Sumitomo Corporation.

The NextGen consortium’s innovative approach to offshore wind development in Scotland will ensure the creation of high value local jobs and opportunities for meaningful community involvement. From their base in Quaybridge’s Fife office, NextGen has worked closely with stakeholders across Scotland to complete early development work, pilot innovative supply chain interventions and build community level relationships for the last three years.

The consortium has initiated development of sites off the coast of Scotland with the objective of safely and successfully delivering the first ScotWind projects into operation. Critical path offshore ornithological, marine mammal and metocean surveys have already been completed by the consortium, reducing the time needed to bring the projects into construction.

Leading European offshore wind independent developer Parkwind brings a full suite of development, construction and operational experience to the consortium gained from 10 years of offshore projects in Belgium, Germany and Ireland.

Maple Power Ltd is a 50:50 joint venture between Enbridge Inc. and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), providing services to a portfolio of 3.2GW (gross) of European offshore wind investments in development, construction and operations.

Commenting on the NextGen ScotWind application, Strategy Manager at Quaybridge Scotland, Zoe Barnes, said “We’re delighted to be working together with such a strong group of partner companies to help deliver our vision for Next Generation Offshore Wind; one where offshore wind fulfils its full societal potential. If we are successful in ScotWind, NextGen will raise the bar on what offshore wind can be in Scotland – delivering positive change in local communities and the Scottish economy, all in service of an accelerated transition towards Net Zero.”

François Van Leeuw, co-CEO at Parkwind, added: “Offshore wind has always been a significant contributor to local economic activity. With Next Generation Offshore Wind, we aim to bring local value creation to the forefront of our green energy mission. Together, we want to demonstrate that offshore wind is a key contributor to a carbon free future and a strong economy.”

Toby Edmonds, CEO at Maple Power, added: “We would like to thank Crown Estate Scotland and the Scottish Government for offering an industry leading and highly attractive opportunity. We believe that this is a first-class tender process that gives developers like us an opportunity to put forward well-considered proposals targeted at achieving Scotland’s objectives. We are confident that, together with our partners and local industry, we will deliver world-class offshore wind projects for Scotland.”

The consortium is also backed by a number of reputable partners, including BlackRock’s latest Global Renewable Power strategy and Sumitomo Corporation. BlackRock has a strong presence in Scotland, with over 750 employees and the BlackRock Renewable Power platform has invested in near 300 wind and solar projects globally. Sumitomo Corporation, one of Japan’s most prominent investment groups has a long-standing history in offshore wind investments throughout Europe including the UK.

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Notes to Editors

1. Quaybridge Scotland brings together the right competence and commitment needed to deliver on the UK Offshore Wind Sector Deal. We’ve aggregated decades of frontline offshore wind experience from some of the best developers and engineers in the business. We are backed by investors with a proven track record in the industry and the financial clout needed to deliver effective and rapid project development. www.quaybridge.com

2. Parkwind is one of Europe’s leading companies in the development, financing, construction and operation of offshore wind farms. Parkwind operates 771 MW in Belgian waters, and has secured a development pipeline of approximately 1.1 GW across Europe, pursuing a develop-build-hold strategy with rapidly growing teams in Belgium, Ireland & Germany. www.parkwind.be

3. Enbridge Inc. is a leading North American energy infrastructure company. We safely and reliably deliver the energy people need and want to fuel quality of life. Our core businesses include Liquids Pipelines, which transports approximately 25 percent of the crude oil produced in North America; Gas Transmission and Midstream, which transports approximately 20 percent of the natural gas consumed in the U.S.; Gas Distribution and Storage, which serves approximately 3.8 million retail customers in Ontario and Quebec; and Renewable Power Generation, which generates approximately 1,763 MW of net renewable power in North America and Europe. The Company’s common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ENB. www.enbridge.com

4. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments™) is a professional investment management organization that manages the Fund in the best interest of the more than 20 million contributors and beneficiaries of the Canada Pension Plan. In order to build diversified portfolios of assets, investments are made around the world in public equities, private equities, real estate, infrastructure and fixed income. Headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, New York City, San Francisco, São Paulo and Sydney, CPP Investments is governed and managed independently of the Canada Pension Plan and at arm’s length from governments. At March 31, 2021, the Fund totalled C$497.2 billion. www.cppinvestments.com

5. BlackRock’s Global Renewable Power platform has invested in over 300 wind and solar projects across 14 countries in 4 continents. The Global Renewable Power team consists of 54 professionals, with an average of 20 years of senior investment and technical expertise. The team manages over US$9 billion of client capital, with an emphasis on globally diversified portfolios, measurable climate impact and differentiated sourcing. www.blackrock.com

6. Sumitomo Corporation (“SC”) is a leading Fortune 500 global trading and business investment company with 135 locations (Japan: 22, Overseas: 113) in 66 countries and regions. The entire SC Group consists of more than 900 companies. SC conducts commodity transactions in all industries utilizing worldwide networks, provides customers with financing, serves as an organizer and a coordinator for various projects, and invests in companies to promote greater growth potential. SC’s core business areas include seven business fields: Infrastructure; Energy Innovation; Metal Products; Transportation & Construction Systems; Media & Digital; Living Related & Real Estate; and Mineral Resources, Energy, Chemical & Electronics. www.sumitomocorp.com/

7. Press enquires: joe.phillips@quaybridge.com

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Maarten van der Horst

Head of Projects

Maarten joined Parkwind and more specifically the Oriel project team in early 2021. He brings 17 years of experience in the energy industry having worked at Engie's renewables arm first as an engineer, later as offshore specialist.

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Wim Verrept

IT Services Manager

He joined Parkwind in 2016 as risk manager, during the installation phase of Nobelwind. Since then his responsibilities have expanded to include IT and the QHSSE department. Before joining the company, he worked as a risk manager at large financial institution in Belgium.

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Ingrid Dony

HR Manager

Ingrid joined Parkwind in 2013 and manages the Human Resources department. Her expertise in corporate HR has created the foundations in Parkwind’s evolving and rapidly growing employee and consultant base. Her team manages everything from payroll to employee development and communications. She has been instrumental in preparing the organization for international expansion and the digitalization of numerous HR legal and administrative tools.

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Dirk Dewettinck

Head of R&D

At Parkwind since 2015 he manages the engineering resources involved in project development, design and construction. He was closely involved in the technical management of the Nobelwind and Northwester 2 projects. Prior to joining Parkwind, he was involved in other offshore wind projects, working for a major wind turbine supplier, and prior to that he worked for more than 15 years with major engineering contractors in projects around the world, mainly in the conventional power generation construction and services (steam, gas, nuclear).

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Clément Helbig de Balzac

Project Director Arcadis Ost 1

Joining Parkwind in 2011 as a project finance specialist and he was heavily involved in the financing and construction of Northwind and Nobelwind. Thereafter, as project finance manager, he led the financing process of Northwester 2 and the refinancing of three operational offshore wind farms of the Parkwind portfolio. He is also involved in business development projects for his expertise lies in financing processes, construction contract negotiation, contracting strategy and development and construction management.

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Edward Van Melkebeek

Head of Technology

Since joining Parkwind in 2018, he has been leading the Technology team responsible for leveraging Parkwind’s know-how in civil, electrical and WTG packages to development of new projects. The team also performs a supply chain role, managing technical aspects of project contracts. Previously, he has built extensive practical and managerial experience in the offshore construction business for over 22 years at a global leading dredging and offshore contractor strongly active in the offshore wind industry.

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Mathias Van Steenwinkel

Business Development Manager

He joined Parkwind in 2012 working on financial modelling, PPA negotiations and the overall financial close processes. Since 2016, he is heading the growing business development department playing a key role in the identification of new projects, global partnerships and tender preparations.

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Kristof Verlinden

O&M Manager

With Parkwind since 2010, he is responsible for the asset management and production management of all of Parkwind’s offshore operational assets. The O&M organization plays a pivotal role in project development incorporating strategic insight to ensure frictionless O&M operations from the moment of first production. The team also supplies external support services, is involved in numerous R&D initiatives with universities and wind farm performance analysis using state of the art data systems. Kristof joined Parkwind with an engineering background in international service support business and wind turbine driveline design validation.

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Pieter Marinus

General Counsel and Investment Relations Director

As a former Parkwind board member, he has been involved in the financial close and follow-up of every Parkwind project as well as in their acquisition and divestment processes. Prior to joining Parkwind’s management in 2017, he was also in charge of multiple other renewable energy investments and financings around Europe, notably as Investment Director at Korys.

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Peter Caluwaerts

Head of Engagement Management

After years of building extensive experience in large construction works, he started his career in offshore wind in 2010 by taking up the role of CLO of Parkwind, responsible for regulatory, legal and contracting matters for Belwind and Northwind windfarms. Since then, as Project Director, he’s led the Northwester 2 project completed in 2020 and is now responsible for Parkwind’s Irish projects Oriel and Clogherhead. He plays an instrumental role in organizing Parkwind’s international expansion and growth.

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Eric Antoons

co-CEO

Before joining the company in 2013, he worked for one of the largest power and gas suppliers in Belgium, in both operational and executive functions. Joining Parkwind in 2013 as COO, he supervised the construction of three wind farm projects and the considerable growth of O&M activities. Since becoming co-CEO in 2016, he has also developed Parkwind’s R&D activities to the forefront partnering with universities and several technology start-ups.

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François Van Leeuw

co-CEO

He joined Parkwind as CFO in 2009 and has been leading the financing and development of Parkwind's first wind farms. In his role he’s particularly involved in new business and partnership development for Parkwind globally. He is also serving as the chairman of the Belgian Offshore Platform, the non-profit association of investors and owners of Belgian wind farms.

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Paul Tummers

CFO

Arriving to Parkwind in 2019, after a broad career in energy and infrastructure, he has taken a leading role in Parkwind’s international expansion from both corporate finance and organizational restructuring.