The Scottish government has awarded Section 36 consent and associated marine licences to the 100MW Salamander wind farm in a significant step forward in its commitment to the floating offshore wind industry.
The project is being jointly developed by Ørsted, the Simply Blue Group and Subsea7. The consent gives developers the go-ahead to construct and operate the floating array.
Positioned 35km offshore Peterhead in northeast Scotland, the Salamander offshore wind farm will harness floating offshore wind technologies to generate zero-carbon electricity.
The project, with an accompanying 100MW onshore battery system, will contribute to the Scottish government’s target of 11GW of installed offshore wind as well as the UK government’s target of 5GW of operational floating offshore wind by 2030.
The endorsement from Marine Directorate Licensing and Operations (MD-LOT), along with contributions from stakeholders such as NatureScot, now sanctioned by Scottish ministers, strengthens local supply chains.
Following the onshore planning permission in principle award for on-site works in March 2025, the latest consent assures that project timelines are maintained towards deployment before year-end 2030.
The team will now focus on securing an option agreement with Crown Estate Scotland and subsequently aim to obtain a contract for difference (CfD) agreement.
Project director Hugh Yendole stated: “Coming hot on the heels of the onshore consent, this is yet another major achievement by the project team. While we worked proactively with MD-LOT to achieve offshore consent – including compensation plans - within the 12-month target window, the award within 15 months reflects our team’s expertise, passion, commitment and seamless teamwork.”
Salamander signed an exclusivity agreement in May 2023 as part of Crown Estate Scotland’s innovation and targeted oil and gas (INTOG) leasing round.
With a focus on floating supply chain development, the Salamander wind farm will enable the local supply chain to prepare for commercial-scale opportunities in Scotland.
The project will de-risk floating wind technologies and integration with battery storage systems to address challenges such as grid balancing and co-located generation for future commercial projects in Scotland and beyond.
