Ocean Winds has submitted planning applications to the Scottish Government's Marine Directorate for the 2GW Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm, marking a significant milestone after three years of development. The project, located in the outer Moray Firth, was awarded as part of the ScotWind leasing process in 2022.
Building on its track record in the region, Ocean Winds, a joint venture between EDP Renewables and Engie, has been active in the Moray Firth since 2010 with the Moray East (operational since 2020) and Moray West (under construction) offshore wind farms. The Caledonia project is set to more than double Ocean Winds' generation capacity in the area.
“Our consent application is a major milestone and comes after three years of intensive work to survey, research, study, and model the natural and human environment of the Moray Firth,” said Aleks Schmidt-Sweetingham, Offshore Consent Manager. The Environmental Impact Assessment Report, which includes both offshore and onshore components, will be available for public consultation once validated by the Marine Directorate.
Caledonia's Project Director, Mark Baxter, highlighted the company's approach to early investment in project development, stating: “We build and operate the projects we develop, so we understand the value of frontloading investment to produce a high-quality application. This minimizes delays for consenting authorities, especially in the busy ScotWind environment.”
The site is designed to use commercially proven fixed foundation technology optimized from previous projects at Moray East and Moray West. The project will also leverage existing AC technology for grid connections, avoiding delays associated with global DC supply chain bottlenecks. Additionally, Baxter noted the potential for deploying floating structures in the southern part of the site, further advancing Scotland's floating offshore wind capabilities.
“With Caledonia, Ocean Winds is doing more of what we have already successfully achieved in the same place. This makes us one of the lowest-risk, most competitive ScotWind projects, capable of delivery in the shortest time,” Baxter concluded.
