Scotland’s Aberdeenshire Council has granted planning approval for the onshore infrastructure required for the Caledonia and Buchan offshore wind farms.
The consents allow each developer to proceed with their respective underground cable routes and substations, which are necessary to connect the offshore schemes to Scotland’s electricity transmission network.
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For the Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm, operated by Ocean Winds, a joint venture between EDPR and ENGIE, the council’s Infrastructure Services Committee approved the plans following a meeting on 14 May.
The consent covers an underground cable corridor of approximately 3km linking the previously approved Caledonia substation at Burnside to a new SSEN Transmission substation at Greens. This connection is required to transmit energy from the 2GW wind farm into the grid.
Ocean Winds expects to begin onshore construction in 2028, pending a separate offshore consent decision from the Scottish Government.
Development rights for Caledonia were awarded in 2021 through the ScotWind leasing round, and work on its onshore elements began in 2022.
The project sits adjacent to the company’s operational Moray East and Moray West sites in the Moray Firth.
Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm project director Mark Baxter said: “The approved underground cable connection is essential to enabling the project to connect into the electricity transmission network and deliver renewable energy at scale, supporting Scotland’s and the UK’s energy transition ambitions.
“We would like to thank all stakeholders, consultees and local communities who engaged constructively throughout the planning process.”
The Buchan Offshore Wind project also received consent for its land-based infrastructure during the same council session.
The approved plans relate to the installation of an underground power cable running around 20km from Rattray Head to a new substation near the existing Peterhead facility. This will facilitate connection of the floating offshore wind farm to the national transmission system.
The Buchan offshore wind site, situated approximately 75km north east of Fraserburgh, is expected to have close to 1GW of capacity.
This project is targeting grid connection by the early 2030s.
Both projects are shaping their proposals following site selection and environmental studies, as well as consultation programmes involving statutory consultees, community groups and key stakeholders.
Developers intend to install all cables underground and to restore any land affected by construction upon completion.
Each scheme has submitted separate applications to the Scottish Government seeking offshore consent, with decisions expected later in the year.
