Crown Estate Scotland has provided a procedural update to developers on a potential clearing round for sites unclaimed in its recent 24GW offshore wind leasing auction.
The auction-runner said that it is likely conditions to hold a further round for seabed unclaimed in ScotWind will be met, confirming that all of the NE1 area close to the Shetland Isles will be made available for clearing.
Confirmation of the full process and other available areas is expected in April.
Crown Estate Scotland stipulates there must be at least more than one applicant entitled to make a clearing request for the process to be run, as well as scope for option agreements within any restrictions imposed by the Sectoral Marine Plan.
The update notes that the clearing process is not an opportunity for developers to restart the application process and new entrants will also be barred from bidding.
A July 2022 deadline is expected for clearing applications with any resulting option agreements signed in the autumn.