Offshore wind energy - draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan 2025: consultation

Annex B. Background to Offshore Wind Development and Sectoral Marine Planning in Scotland

Background to Offshore Wind Development in Scotland

Robin Rigg Wind Farm, located in the Solway Firth, was the first commercial offshore wind farm in Scottish Waters. Robin Rigg began generating power in 2009, with full operations starting in April 2010. With a capacity of 184 MW Robin Rigg marked a significant milestone, providing enough electricity to power approximately 117,000 homes and demonstrating the viability of offshore wind energy in Scotland^[119].

In addition to the strategic planning exercises administered by Scottish Ministers, two additional development zones in Scottish waters were identified by The Crown Estate’s Round 3 in 2010. This led to the development of four projects: Moray East, Moray West, Seagreen and Berwick Bank. Moray East and Seagreen are fully operational with a capacity of 950 MW and 1075 MW respectively. Moray West is under construction and expected to be fully operational in 2025. Berwick Bank has submitted a consent application to the Scottish Government.

A number of demonstration projects have been developed or are in the process of development within Scottish Waters. The first of these, Beatrice Demonstration, served as an industry trial of deep water bottom-fixed foundations. It ceased operating during 2015 and subsequently closed in 2016^[22]. The Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine^[23]provided research opportunities to help drive cost reduction in offshore wind, whilst the Forthwind project^[24]will test turbine technology.

Table 1 provides a list of offshore wind installations consented or awaiting consent that do not form part of the Plan Options being considered in the draft updated SMP-OWE.

Background to Sectoral Marine Planning in Scotland

The first Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy was adopted in 2011. Three short-term option sites identified in the 2011 Plan have since progressed: Beatrice – operational; Inch Cape – Consented with construction due 2025; Neart na Gaoithe – Under construction.

Draft Sectoral Marine Plans for wave and tidal were subsequently produced in 2013. These draft Plans identified several sustainable spatial options for future marine energy developments. Due in part to the Electricity Market Reform and the technical challenges facing wave and tidal projects, these draft Plans were not formally adopted by Scottish Ministers. The 2013 draft Plan Options were however included in the NMP (2015).

In 2017, following the creation of Crown Estate Scotland (CES), Scottish Ministers and CES announced a new seabed leasing round for offshore wind development in Scottish waters. All seabed leasing for commercial scale offshore wind projects is plan-led to ensure the best use of space and management of overlapping interests. As such, CESOSES began designing the leasing process and, as the planning authority for Scotland’s Seas, the Scottish Government began the Sectoral Marine Planning process for offshore wind. This led to the adoption of the SMP-OWE in October 2020, publication of the INTOG Initial Plan Framework (2022) and subsequent ScotWind and INTOG leasing rounds.

ScotWind

The ScotWind leasing process enabled developers to apply for seabed rights to develop commercial-scale windfarms in Scottish waters. Around 28 GW of new potential generating capacity could be built over the coming years as a result. The term 'ScotWind’ is now used to refer to the leasing process that was carried out in addition to the projects that developers are progressing as a result of winning leasing rights in the leasing round.

Offshore wind projects typically take several years to plan, develop and build. ScotWind projects are expected to be built from the late 2020s onwards.

INTOG

The aim of the INTOG leasing round was to attract investment in innovative offshore wind projects in Scottish waters, as well as help decarbonise oil and gas operations. INTOG is designed, in response to demand from government and industry, to help achieve the targets of the North Sea Transition Deal. INTOG also aims to further stimulate innovation in Scotland’s offshore wind sector, create additional supply chain opportunities, assist companies to enter the renewable energy market, and support the provision of clean energy as part of the transition towards net zero.

INTOG consists of two distinct elements:

• IN - small scale, innovative projects of less than 100MW, and;
• TOG - specifically designed for offshore wind projects which target the electrification of oil and gas installations and reduce the carbon emissions associated with production

Regulating Offshore Wind Farm Development in Scottish Waters

• Sectoral Marine Planning for Offshore Wind Energy
  • Sits within the Scottish Government’s Offshore Wind Directorate and is a process that identifies preferred spatial options in Scottish waters to support the sustainable development of offshore wind.
• Scotland’s National Marine Plan
  • Marine Planning sits with Scottish Governments Marine Directorate and any authorisation or enforcement decisions must be taken in accordance with the appropriate marine plans, as set out in section 15 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. If a public authority makes an authorisation or enforcement decision otherwise than in accordance with the appropriate marine plans, it must state its reasons.
• Marine Licensing and Electricity Act Consenting
  • Is the responsibility of the Scottish Government’s MD-LOT, which acts on behalf of Scottish Ministers, to provide an independent regulatory function.
  • A range of marine licensing and/or section 36 consenting requirements is required at various stages of developing offshore renewable energy projects, for example, consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 is needed to construct and operate a wind farm.

Seabed Leasing

Is the responsibility of the CES who manage the Scottish Crown Estate on behalf of Scottish Ministers. The responsibilities of CES include awarding and managing leases and other types of agreements to organisations who want to build offshore wind farms. The most recent leasing rounds have been ScotWind and INTOG.