Berwick Bank - Powering Millions and Redefining Offshore Wind

14th January 2026

The Berwick Bank Wind Farm is poised to become one of the largest offshore wind energy projects in the world. It will be a flagship development in the UK's renewable energy transition and a central pillar of Scotland’s contribution to net‑zero goals.

Situated off the east coast near Lothian Scotland in the North Sea, this development exemplifies the scale, ambition and complexity of the next generation of offshore wind infrastructure.

Unprecedented Scale and Clean Energy Output

At full build‑out, the Berwick Bank site is planned to deliver up to 4.1 GW of installed capacity, which places it among the largest wind projects globally. This capacity — equivalent to the output of several large power stations combined — could generate enough clean electricity to power over six million homes annually, roughly twice the number of households in Scotland.

The sheer physical footprint of the site is vast, covering an area of roughly 1,010-1,314 km² (about four times the size of Edinburgh) in waters approximately 38 km offshore. The site’s size allows for a very large number of turbines — up to 307 units — which will be spaced across the seabed and connected into an integrated energy generation network.

Next‑Generation Turbine Technology

While final turbine models have not yet been publicly confirmed, plans assume the use of very large offshore turbines with rotor diameters of up to 310 m and blade tip heights potentially reaching 355 m above sea level. These design parameters reflect the latest advances in offshore wind technology — larger rotors and taller hub heights mean more wind capture and higher energy output per unit, improving overall project efficiency.

The turbines will be mounted on robust fixed foundations — typically suction caisson or piled jackets — capable of withstanding North Sea conditions. They will be interconnected by an extensive network of inter‑array subsea cables that link turbines to offshore substations and onward to export infrastructure.

Multi‑Component Grid Connection

One of the standout features of the Berwick Bank project is its dual grid connection strategy, reflecting the scale of the power it will generate and the need for resilient transmission into the UK energy system.

Offshore Export and Substation Platforms

Electricity generated by the wind turbines will first be collected at offshore substation platforms (OSPs) — specialised marine platforms that house electrical equipment for voltage transformation and aggregation. These platforms serve as hubs where electricity from many turbines is consolidated before export.

From the OSPs, offshore export cables will carry high‑capacity power to landfall points on the northeast UK coast. The project encompasses multiple subsea cable routes to shore, ensuring continuity of supply and redundancy where feasible.

Two Onshore Grid Connection Points

Berwick Bank will not rely on a single point of connection. Instead, it has secured multiple grid connection offers from the National Grid Electricity System Operator (NGESO), including:

Branxton, near Torness in East Lothian — a new or upgraded 400 kV substation will receive exports from one set of export cables and feed them into the Scottish transmission network.

Blyth (Cambois), Northumberland — a second grid connection in northeast England will take power via the so‑called Cambois connection, including offshore and onshore export cables, an onshore converter station and high‑voltage links into the existing National Grid facility.

This dual connection arrangement spreads the transmission load across two regional grid hubs and enhances the project’s contribution to UK‑wide energy security and flexibility.

Economic, Climate and Strategic Impact

Berwick Bank is more than a power station at sea — it represents a multi‑billion‑pound investment in renewable infrastructure and supply chains. Independent analyses suggest that at peak construction activity, it could support around 4,650 direct jobs in Scotland and nearly 9,300 across the UK, delivering an estimated £8.3 billion of economic value over its lifetime.

In climate terms, the project’s large output will displace millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, reinforcing the Scottish Government’s commitment to net‑zero by 2045 and the UK’s broader offshore wind targets.

Status and Next Steps

In mid‑2025, the Scottish Government granted a key planning consent for the project’s offshore array, removing a major regulatory hurdle and setting the stage for investment decisions and future construction phases. However, additional consents — particularly for the Cambois grid connection and some offshore infrastructure — are still progressing through planning processes.

If these approvals and final offtake contracts under schemes such as the UK’s Contracts for Difference (CfD) are secured, construction could commence in earnest later this decade, with full operation timed to support rapid scaling of offshore wind capacity by 2030.

The Berwick Bank Wind Farm is set to reshape renewable energy in the UK and potentially the world. With up to 4.1 GW of capacity, hundreds of advanced turbines, extensive offshore and onshore transmission infrastructure, and strategic grid connections in both Scotland and England, it embodies the scale and ambition needed for the clean energy transition. Its successful delivery will not only power millions of homes with zero‑carbon electricity but also drive economic growth, energy security and progress toward climate targets well into the 2030s.