The ScotWind outcome “creates an incredible platform for industrial transformation and revitalisation”, according to industry body Scottish Renewables.
The first offshore wind leasing in Scottish waters for a decade received a total of 74 bids, largely from members of Scottish Renewables, with 17 successful bidders confirmed.
Scottish Renewables chief executive Claire Mack (pictured) said: “Today’s announcement on the outcome of the first ScotWind leasing round is an exciting and significant moment in Scotland’s renewable energy story, with offshore wind set to make a major contribution to bringing about our net-zero future.”
The potential for 17 new projects creates “huge ambition” to drive the sector to deliver and will add greatly to the country’s existing pipeline of projects in construction and development, she said.
“Scotland now has an extensive and attractive offshore market, and the most seabed dedicated to commercial floating wind development anywhere in the world. These 11 floating wind projects give Scotland a historic opportunity to create a major new sector to drive the blue economy, drawing on our deep water expertise and making a just energy transition a reality in the North Sea,” said Mack.
“Challenges lie ahead but I am delighted to see a range of both established and new faces who will invest so much over the coming decade to bring these projects to life,” she said.
Port of Cromarty Firth chief executive Bob Buskie said: “As the first round of offshore wind leasing in a decade, today’s highly anticipated announcement is hugely significant for the Cromarty Firth, the Highlands and Scotland. We congratulate the developers who have been successful in the selection process.
“The Port of Cromarty Firth is primed and ready to take advantage of the opportunity with the winning developers, alongside our partners in Opportunity Cromarty Firth, collaborating to provide a sustainable economic impact in the Highlands for years to come.”
ORE Catapult chief executive Andrew Jamieson said: “The results of this first Scotwind auction are huge. 25GW of offshore wind, or almost two and a half times more than the total so far deployed in all UK waters, demonstrates extraordinary ambition and could make a seismic, positive shift in Scotland’s journey to Net Zero.
“It presents a once in a generation opportunity for Scottish innovation to come to the fore and drive economic and supply chain growth and job creation.
“That such a significant portion of the anticipated new projects should be floating wind positions us at the global forefront of this transformative new technology, and ORE Catapult very much looks forward to working closely with the potential industrial participants, the Scottish government and Crown Estate Scotland to realise the massive opportunity.”
RenewableUK’s deputy chief executive Melainie Onn said: “Today’s announcement marks the start of a new era for the UK’s world-leading offshore wind industry. ScotWind represents one of the country’s biggest ever steps towards net zero.
“To put this landmark into context, the 25GW of new capacity announced today is two and a half times the UK’s entire current offshore wind capacity.
“It’s also equal to the entire current operational offshore wind capacity for the whole of Europe. It will scale up our ability to slash emissions exponentially.
“In the long term, it will also help to reduce the UK’s vulnerability to international gas prices which are hurting consumers.
“Overall it’s a massive economic boost for the whole country at just the right time. These projects will attract billions of pounds from private investors, which will create thousands of skilled jobs and allow us to maximise supply chain opportunities all around the UK.
“It also underlines the need to speed up the planning process, so that we can connect these offshore wind farms faster across the UK to meet our targets for 2030 and beyond.
“It’s highly significant that 60% of the new capacity announced today is for floating offshore wind projects.
“This will secure the UK’s lead in innovative floating wind, generating enormous amounts of power from the best wind resources in Europe, as well as creating opportunities for us to export our cutting-edge technology worldwide.”