Spiorad na Mara offshore wind, which is jointly owned by by Northland Power (75.5%) and ESB (24.5%), has issued its scoping report for the project off of the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.
The purpose of the scoping report is to engage with stakeholders as part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process, setting out the topics to be assessed in the EIA.
This helps the project and statutory consultees to agree what information is needed, together with the methods that will be used to identify and assess the impacts that could arise from the project, both offshore and onshore.
Tanya Davies, project director of Spiorad na Mara, said: “This is a very important milestone for the project and a key part of the early development stage of any offshore wind farm.
“The feedback and input from consultees will enrich and inform our future plans, as we continue to progress the development and design of the project.”
In another development, following a recent application to the National Grid Electricity System Operator regarding the grid connection for Spiorad na Mara, it is expected that the potential maximum installed capacity of the project will change from 840MW to around 900MW.
This would give the project the capacity to meet the average annual electricity needs of 815,000 Scottish households, an increase of 55,000.
This modest increase will not change the project footprint, either onshore or offshore.
During 2024, at least two phases of formal public consultation are expected to take place on the project.
During each of these consultations, the latest plans and proposals for the project will be shared, providing local communities, members of the public and all other stakeholders with an opportunity to ask questions and give feedback, prior to the planning application being submitted.