the west of orkney windfarm

about THE project

The West of Orkney Windfarm is being developed around 30km off the west coast of Orkney and around 25km from the north Sutherland coast. With an expected capacity of around 2GW, and first power scheduled by 2030, the project will be capable of powering the equivalent of more than two million homes.

The West of Orkney Windfarm lies wholly within the “N1” Plan Option, which is one of 15 areas around Scotland which the Scottish Government considered suitable for the development of commercial scale offshore windfarms. The Scottish Government published the Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy in October 2020 following over two years of extensive analysis, consideration and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders.

In January 2022 the consortium was successful in securing an Option Agreement from Crown Estate Scotland for the project in the ScotWind leasing process. The West of Orkney Windfarm also has a grid connection agreement with National Grid for a connection in Caithness.

The project has now received planning permission in principle from The Highland Council under the Town & Country Planning Act for the onshore works required to connect to the grid in Caithness.

The project has also submitted comprehensive offshore consent applications to Scottish Ministers including applications for consent under the Electricity Act 1989 and marine licence applications under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Accompanying each application is an extensive suite of assessments based on survey data collected over two and a half years.

Planning & Consent 

INVESTING IN SCOTLAND

Over its lifetime the West Orkney Windfarm project is targeting 60% UK content, with 40% coming from Scotland and ambitions for more. This will be unlocked by:

  • Committing  to a £105 million investment initiative that will be enhanced to £140 million by third parties to support the offshore wind supply chain locally and ensure high levels of content from Scottish and UK companies.
  • Supporting significant employment opportunities and playing a critical role in helping both Scotland and the UK meet their net zero targets.
  • Providing the renewable power necessary to generate green hydrogen at the proposed Flotta Hydrogen Hub on the island of Flotta on Orkney, which itself could drive significant supply chain benefits not captured in by the windfarm.

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