The West of Orkney Windfarm has submitted comprehensive offshore consent applications to Scottish Ministers for its proposed 2GW offshore wind project, secured under ScotWind.
Last year, the West of Orkney Windfarm secured the development rights to an area of seabed from Crown Estate Scotland in the ScotWind leasing process to bring forward an offshore wind farm 30km west of the Orkney mainland and 25km north of the Sutherland coast.
The project will have up to 125 turbines on fixed foundations and aims to deliver first power in 2029.
It is being developed by a joint venture comprising Corio Generation, TotalEnergies and Renewable Infrastructure Development Group (RIDG).
The West of Orkney Windfarm is the first ScotWind project to have applied for consent, having achieved this milestone only 20 months after being awarded the site.
Nick Sharpe, Director of Communications at Scottish Renewables, said: “ScotWind is set to transform the energy landscape in Scotland, so it is encouraging to see the West of Orkney Wind Farm become the first project from last year’s leasing round to enter the consenting process.
“Consenting offshore wind farms is a complex process and the Scottish Government now needs to ensure its agencies have the right skills and capacity in place so that decisions can be made on this project, and others which follow, at the pace needed to tackle the climate emergency.”
West of Orkney development manager Jack Farnham said: “Our vision is to develop a world-leading offshore wind farm that will spearhead the decarbonisation of the Scottish economy and play a pivotal role in fostering growth, empowerment and prosperity for local communities.
“Any project which intends to power around two million homes cannot be undertaken in isolation from the communities in which it will operate.
“Over the last two years we’ve organised 33 public events, reaching over 2400 residents across Caithness, Sutherland and Orkney.
“This application outlines our commitment to safeguard marine habitats, protect wildlife, and minimise any potential disturbances to the local ecosystem.
“It includes a biodiversity enhancement plan, setting out how the West of Orkney Windfarm will positively interact, over the long term, with the environment of the area in which we operate.
“Moreover, it highlights our proactive approach to engaging with local communities to foster sustainable development and create a positive legacy across generations.”
The submission includes applications for consent under the Electricity Act 1989 and marine licence applications under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.
Accompanying these is an extensive suite of assessments based on survey data collected over two and a half years.
The application’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report has been managed through Xodus Group’s Stromness office.