The Scottish government has officially granted offshore consent to the 2GW West of Orkney wind farm – the first ScotWind initiative to achieve both onshore planning permission and offshore approval.
Scottish ministers granted the consent following a recommendation from the government’s Marine Directorate Licensing Operations Team (MD-LOT).
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Corio Generation, TotalEnergies and the Renewables Infrastructure Development Group are collaborating on this venture.
The wind farm will be 30km west of Orkney mainland and 25km north of the Sutherland coast, and will feature 25 turbines anchored on fixed foundations.
In June 2024, the Highland Council provisionally approved onshore planning application related to underground cables and electrical infrastructure essential for connecting the wind farm with the Caithness national transmission network.
By March 2025, the council indicated no opposition towards the offshore planning proposal submitted for ministerial consideration.
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By GlobalDataThe submission for offshore consent involved applications under both Electricity Act 1989 and Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 regulations. It was supported by two-and-a-half years of detailed survey data.
Project director Stuart McAuley stated: “The West of Orkney wind farm has the potential to deliver enough renewable electricity to power around two million homes. Its construction would spark significant investment in Scotland’s supply chain, port and harbour infrastructure, and the skilled jobs that would follow.
“We’d like to thank the Scottish government, their officials and all the stakeholders and suppliers who have worked with us so proactively to make this happen.
“The UK government has set out ambitious decarbonisation goals for 2030 and beyond, and our pioneering wind farm, backed by major international investors, can deliver jobs, inward investment and make a significant contribution to the energy transition in Scotland.”
In April 2025, Macquarie ceased the divestment process for Corio Generation, due to insufficient demand in the face of tough market circumstances affecting the offshore wind sector.
