The Highland Council has given its approval to the offshore plans for the 2GW West of Orkney Windfarm, a significant renewable energy project being developed by a joint venture between Corio Generation, TotalEnergies, and Renewable Infrastructure Development Group (RIDG).
Scheduled for completion by 2029, the wind farm will feature up to 125 turbines installed on fixed foundations, located 30 km west of the Orkney Mainland and 25 km north of the Sutherland coast. The project is expected to deliver up to 2 gigawatts of clean power by 2030.
The offshore consent submission includes detailed plans for the construction of the wind farm, as well as additional environmental information submitted last year. The submission was praised by the Government agency NatureScot for its clarity. The Highland Council’s approval is a key step in the approval process, with the final decision on offshore consent to be made by Scottish Ministers, based on recommendations from the Marine Directorate Licensing Operations Team (MD-LOT) and feedback from other consultees.
Jack Farnham, Development Manager for the West of Orkney Windfarm, said: “This is another important milestone for the West of Orkney Windfarm, and we are grateful to The Highland Council for their support. This paves the way to full offshore consent which, if secured, would enable us to enter into a forthcoming UK ‘contract for difference’ auction round – which is a vital step in the advancement of both the project and its supply chain.”
Farnham further emphasized the long-term economic potential of the project, stating, “The West of Orkney Windfarm is a major energy infrastructure scheme which can bring significant long-term economic benefits to the north of Scotland and beyond.”
The developer has already committed to several initiatives in the north of Scotland, including a £1 million research and development program led by EMEC in Orkney, a £900,000 education initiative by UHI, and a £125,000 Fit 4 Renewables program led by ORE Catapult. These efforts aim to support the region’s growing renewable energy sector.
The offshore consent submission includes applications under the Electricity Act 1989 and the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, along with extensive assessments based on survey data collected over two and a half years.
