Energy firms flood to Scotland’s coast to be part of latest offshore wind boom
Newfloatingwindfarmscould be built in Scottish coastal waters as the country moves to increase the amount of green energy produced offshore.
The Scottish Government has set a target to increase offshore wind capacity to 11 gigawatts by the end of the decade.
Dozens of energy firms from across the world have now submitted proposals to Crown Estate Scotland, which has set out a number of development opportunities as part of its Scotwind leasing round.
Bids submitted include plans for both fixed and floating turbines.
Floating offshore turbines are a relatively new and developing technology that make it possible to build in deeper water zones where fixed foundations aren’t feasible.
Scotland is home to the world’s first commercial-scale floating wind farm – the 30 megawatt Hywind pilot project, located off the coast of Peterhead.
Now Norwegian oil and gas giant Equinor, which owns the pioneering scheme, has become the latest company to confirm it is competing to build further floating wind turbines off the Scottish coast.
“Equinor has the experience and capabilities necessary to develop the next fullscale floating offshore wind farm in Scotland following Hywind Scotland,” said Jens Økland, Equinor’s senior vicepresident for business development in renewables.
“By leveraging our offshore execution capabilities and our leading position in floating offshore wind we are ready to create more long-term value and drive the industrialisation of
floating offshore wind further.
“We see floating wind as an enabler for the Scottish Government to achieve its offshore wind targets and help reach its ambitious net zero target of 2045.”
The announcement comes just days after Scottishpower and Shell revealed they had
lodged a joint bid to develop floating wind sites through Scotwind.
Scottishpower chief executive Keith Anderson said: “Scotland is the windiest country in Europe and has the biggest and most experienced offshore sector.
“Bringing Scottishpower
and Shell’s collective knowledge, experience and expertise together means we’re perfectly placed to lead the way in developing large-scale offshore floating wind farms and creating a new green industry with massive potential for exporting our skills and experience globally and helping the UK decarbonise its energy generation.”
Applications for Scotwind, the first offshore leasing round in Scottish waters for a decade, closed on Friday.
The level of interest generated has been welcomed.
Ben Miller, senior policy manager for industry body Scottish Renewables, said: “Offshore wind developers from across the world have recognised Scotland’s renewables potential, and have worked incredibly hard in challenging times to be able to submit their project bids today.
“This is a huge year for Scotland, with COP26 coming to Glasgow, and the outcome of this process will confirm our ambition to be a world leader in deploying new offshore wind technologies.”