More offshore wind farms for Scotland
Sailors can expect to navigate through more Scottish wind farms in the future after Crown Estate Scotland unveiled plans to lease seabed for new offshore projects.
Two offshore wind farms – Robin Rigg and Hywind Scotland – already operate in Scottish waters. A further two are being built – the Beatrice Project in the Moray Firth and the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre off Aberdeen. Last year, the world’s first floating wind farm become operational at Peterhead.
Crown Estate Scotland said all new offshore wind farms would have to fall within areas identified in Marine Scotland’s forthcoming Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind. RYA Scotland said that while it may have reservations about some potential locations, it would work closely with Marine Scotland and Crown Estate Scotland to protect boaters’ interests.
The planning and environment officer for RYA Scotland, Graham Russell, said, ‘We are working on a response to the current scoping consultation. Crown Estate Scotland will only offer leases for these areas and there is a robust process in place to ensure sensible outcomes.’