Northland Power and ESB are to launch a first phase of public consultation for the 900MW Spiorad na Mara wind farm off the west coast of the Isle of Lewis (pictured).
The process will get underway on 23 September and will include the project team sharing the latest updates on all aspects of the project.
The range of topics to be presented as part of the consultation will include offshore array layout options; offshore cable route corridors; onshore cable route corridors; potential landfall and substation locations; Environmental Impact Assessment work and supply chain opportunities.
Feedback received will help inform how the project design and development progresses, said the developers.
“This is the first of two very important phases of public consultation, and is in addition to the programme of wider engagement which has been ongoing since 2022, when the seabed area option was awarded to Northland Power by the Scottish Government,” said project director Tanya Davies.
“We are committed to being inclusive in our consultation activities and to maximising opportunities for participation by all. To achieve this, we will make information available online, hold in-person exhibitions at local venues, and make project team members available for small-group or individual meetings through information clinics.”
A second phase of public consultation will follow and is expected to take place in early 2025. At this point, feedback from the first consultation will have been considered in detail and taken into account, as appropriate, and updated project plans will be shared.
The project is still in the early stages of development and, subject to all necessary permits and consents being received, Spiorad na Mara could begin construction in 2028 and be operational by 2031.