Crown Estate Scotland has launched the up to 10GW ScotWind offshore wind leasing round, the first in Scottish waters for a decade.
Investors and developers can now register an interest in obtaining an ‘option agreement’ with the seabed landlord.
These agreements can then lead to the signing of leases to build offshore wind farms in one of the areas of seabed to be outlined as suitable in the Scottish government’s Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy, which is due to be finalised shortly.
Information for potential applicants will be accessed through an online portal from 6am on 10 June.
As part of any lease application, developers will have to submit a supply chain development statement, outlining how they plan to engage with and utilise supply chain to successfully develop their projects.
It should also include information on the geographical location of supply chain activity and evidence relating to how the plan can be fulfilled.
Crown Estate Scotland said ScotWind will form a major part of Scotland’s green recovery.
It said total investment in ScotWind projects could potentially surpass £8bn and deliver more than enough green electricity to power every Scottish household.
Measures are included to promote and enhance the supply chain to help ensure projects can be developed, it added.
The manager of Scotland’s seabed said that it is anticipated that projects developed through ScotWind will be a major step towards meeting the Scottish government’s target of net zero by 2045.
Crown Estate Scotland head of energy and infrastructure John Robertson said: “Today is a huge step forward in kick-starting Scotland’s green recovery, meeting net zero targets and bringing multi-billion pound investments to benefit communities across the nation.
“Offshore wind is currently one of the cheapest forms of new electricity generation and Scotland is perfectly poised to host major new projects, with a well-established energy skills sector as well as some of the best natural marine resources in Europe.”
Scottish Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “The launch of ScotWind – the first offshore wind leasing round to be administered in Scotland – is a very important milestone for Crown Estate Scotland and Scottish Ministers, but also marks another pivotal moment for the development of our offshore wind sector and also presents an opportunity to help develop our strategic economic response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our seas are host to some of the best offshore wind resources in the world, supporting the continuing growth and expansion of the sector.
“We want to harness this huge resource for our energy system, unlocking significant investment in the supply chain to create more green jobs across the sector and, importantly, to do so in a way that gives due regard to our marine environment and other marine activities.
“My colleagues and I encourage all interested applicants to get involved in ScotWind, to bring forward projects which will help us drive forward Scotland’s green recovery and our transition to becoming a net-zero society by 2045.”
Scottish Renewables chief executive Claire Mack added that the stage is now set for the further development of offshore wind in Scotland.
“Government and industry must now work together to maximise offshore wind deployment, and the supply chain opportunities which come with it, by removing barriers, investing strategically and making the right decisions, at the right time, to ensure this exciting sector has the confidence it needs to thrive at a global scale in the coming decades.”
RenewableUK head of policy and regulation Rebecca Williams said: “The opening of ScotWind Leasing marks a significant step forward for the UK’s offshore wind sector and for the entire country’s green economic recovery after the pandemic.“It creates multi-billion-pound investment opportunities which will last for decades, regenerating coastal communities in Scotland and expanding our wider supply chain which already extends throughout the UK.”