West Of Orkney Windfarm Submits Onshore Planning Application - Landfall In Caithness

7th November 2023

The onshore application provides detailed information on the proposed cable landfalls on the north Caithness coast, the project's substation at or near Spittal in Caithness and the underground cables which will extend around 20km and connect to the substation.

Last year, the West of Orkney Windfarm secured the development rights to an area of seabed from Crown Estate Scotland in the highly competitive ScotWind leasing process to bring forward an offshore windfarm 30km west of the Orkney Mainland and 25km north of the Sutherland coast.

Development Manager Jack Farnham said, "The West of Orkney Windfarm is a £multi-billion project which will deliver significant social and economic benefits to the north of Scotland.

"The onshore connection is a vital component of the project and will enable us to export clean electricity sufficient to power around two million homes. The cables to our substation will all be underground and once installed, the land will be reinstated.

"We've worked hard to consider all environmental and social constraints when seeking to locate the landfalls, underground cables and substation. We've taken on board local communities’ feedback through a series of public events. The substation will be carefully screened by landscaping and native planting. Once operational, the substation will only be lit when necessary. We’re committed to reduce the volume of traffic on local roads and will continue to work closely with the council and local communities through the development process.

"Over the last two years we’ve organised 33 public events, meeting over 2400 residents across Caithness, Sutherland and Orkney in order to allow local people to actively participate and engage with the project’s design.

“Our application includes a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, managed through Xodus Group’s Stromness office, and includes thorough assessments of the environmental impact and proposes measures to avoid, reduce, monitor and manage potential challenges, where necessary.

“We believe this application underscores our commitment to delivering a project to the very highest environmental standards," Farnham said.

The West of Orkney Windfarm will have up to 125 turbines on fixed foundations, an expected capacity of around two gigawatts 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).

In October the project reached a major milestone by submitting comprehensive offshore consent applications to Scottish Ministers. It is the first ScotWind project to have applied for offshore consent, doing so only 20 months after being awarded the site.

“Securing both offshore and onshore consents in a reasonable timescale are critical milestones in unlocking the significant inward investment this ambitious project will generate," Farnham says.

“The onshore application will be available to view at Thurso Library, Ulbster Arms Hotel and Bettyhill Hotel and on our web site and I would encourage as many people as possible to view and comment on our proposal," Farnham concludes.

Once the planning application has been validated by The Highland Council, representations can be made directly to the council.

All documentation and details of public locations can be accessed via the West of Orkney Windfarm web site here:

www.westoforkney.com/planning-consent

The West of Orkney Windfarm

The West of Orkney Windfarm is being developed around 30km off the west coast of Orkney and around 25km from the north Sutherland coast. With an expected capacity of around 2GW, and first power scheduled for 2029, the project will be capable of powering the equivalent of more than two million homes.

The West of Orkney Windfarm lies wholly within the “N1” Plan Option, which is one of 15 areas around Scotland which the Scottish Government considered suitable for the development of commercial scale offshore windfarms. The Scottish Government published the Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy in October 2020 following over two years of extensive analysis, consideration and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders.

In January 2022 the consortium was successful in securing an Option Agreement from Crown Estate Scotland for the project in the ScotWind leasing process.

The West of Orkney Windfarm has a grid connection agreement with National Grid for a connection in Caithness. Additionally, the project partners are exploring an option to power the Flotta Hydrogen Hub. There is the potential for both power export options to be utilised.

About Corio Generation 

Corio Generation is a specialist offshore wind business dedicated to harnessing renewable energy worldwide. With a unique blend of sector-leading expertise and deep access to long-term capital, we work closely with our partners in the creation and management of projects from origination, development and construction, and into operations.

Corio has one of the world’s largest offshore wind project pipelines with more than 30 GW in development across Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Our project portfolio spans established and emerging markets, as well as floating and fixed-foundation technologies. These next generation offshore wind projects will help form the backbone of the net-zero global energy system while meeting the energy needs of communities and corporate offtakers sustainably, reliably, safely and responsibly.

Corio Generation is a portfolio company of Macquarie Asset Management operating on a standalone basis. For more information visit: coriogeneration.com.

About TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies is a global multi-energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, cleaner, more reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people.

About RIDG

RIDG - Renewable Infrastructure Development Group - is an independent, specialised offshore wind project development company with the knowledge and experience to identify and deliver high quality consented assets for strategic partners to build and operate.

RIDG presents a simpler, leaner and more flexible approach to project development, one that draws upon the strengths of both established and emerging suppliers to deliver projects safely, efficiently and cost effectively.