TWP Announces Caithness Community Events To Introduce Ayre Offshore Wind Farm

17th October 2023

Thistle Wind Partners (TWP), which is developing the 1GW Ayre Offshore Wind Farm, announces plans to host a series of events in Caithness to introduce the project to the local community.

Located 33 km to the east of Orkney, the Ayre Offshore Wind Farm is expected to connect to the electricity transmission network in the Spittal area of Caithness, with the location of this connection to be confirmed by the Electricity System Operator, National Grid ESO, this winter.

TWP's proposal is to feed energy from the offshore wind farm into the National Grid by running cables to shore at a point in the Sinclair's Bay area. These underground cables will connect to a TWP substation. From here, underground cables will connect to the transmission network at a new substation being developed by SSEN Transmission.

Once consents are achieved, construction of the onshore infrastructure is expected to begin from 2028, with the offshore wind farm going into construction the following year, and first power to the grid expected in the early 2030's.

TWP is holding a schedule of information events for the local community in Caithness, starting next month, to introduce the project to the local community in advance of formal public consultations, which will then follow in 2024.

Location of the grid connection

In choosing locations, TWP will ensure that they meet Ofgem’s criteria for economic efficiency (making sure that the cost of building and maintaining infrastructure does not increase energy bills).

Other factors for consideration will be the feasibility of civil engineering works and potential impacts on the natural environment, local communities, transport routes and historic monuments.

Ian Taylor, TWP’s Project Director, commented: "We are looking forward to meeting people in the region and introducing the plans for our Ayre Offshore Wind Farm. The events will help us to understand the local area better, listen to suggestions and concerns, and make sure our planning is fully informed.

"We are a new developer, and we are new to the region, but we have set firm targets for bringing local Scottish businesses into our supply chain, and we are firmly committed to helping the local economy in Caithness to benefit from the presence of our wind farm in the long term."

TWP community events

Keiss Village Hall, Tuesday 21st November, 12pm to 6pm
The Park Hotel, Thurso, Wednesday 22nd November, 2pm to 8pm
Halkirk Village Hall (Ross Institute), Thursday 23rd November, 2pm to 8pm
Spittal Village Hall, Friday 24th November, 2pm to 8pm
Norseman Hotel, Wick, Saturday 25th November, 12pm to 6pm

About Thistle Wind Partners

Thistle Wind Partners (TWP) is a partnership between DEME Concessions, Qair and Aspiravi that was formed to develop offshore wind farms in Scotland. Operating from offices in Edinburgh, TWP is developing two pioneering projects after successfully securing rights to almost 400km2 of seabed under the ScotWind leasing round in 2022.

Currently in development is the Ayre Offshore Wind Farm, a 1GW floating-foundation project located 33km to the east of Orkney, and the Bowdun Offshore Wind Farm, a 1GW fixed-foundation project 44km off the coast of Aberdeen.

TWP is committed to developing local supply chain in Scotland, contributing to a ScotWind legacy of large-scale renewables build-out in Scotland. In developing its two offshore wind sites, TWP will take a technology-neutral approach to procurement, considering offerings from market entrants and SMEs.