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

Executive Summary

This draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE) sets out an integrated planning framework for both the ScotWind and Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing rounds alongside consideration of additional capacity for test and demonstration (T&D) projects. It brings these elements into one planning document that:

• Updates the planning baseline from the 2020 SMP-OWE to take account of the level of ambition for offshore wind development in Scottish waters arising from the ScotWind leasing round;
• Continues the planning process for INTOG, building on the INTOG Initial Planning Framework (IPF) (2022); and
• Considers additional capacity for the development of T&D offshore wind projects, in recognition of potential future need for further testing of technology.

Spatially, this draft updated Plan defines refined Option Areas (OAs) within the spatial constraints of the Plan Options (POs) identified in the SMP-OWE 2020 and the Areas of Search (AoS) identified in the INTOG IPF, in order to reflect the outcome of the ScotWind and INTOG leasing rounds. It sets out key parameters for development which, alongside the OAs spatially defined in this draft updated SMP-OWE, should guide licensing and consenting decision-making and support projects to further progress through the leasing process, in accordance with the objectives and marine planning polices set out in the adopted National Marine Plan (NMP).

The draft updated SMP-OWE has been developed to ensure consistency with the objectives and principles set out within relevant plans and programmes. It brings together the assessment of environmental, social and economic impacts into one Sustainability Appraisal (SA) that assesses the potential impacts and benefits of the ScotWind and INTOG Plan Options and the T&D capacity in an integrated way. It has been developed in line with the Scottish Government’s established process for developing sectoral offshore energy plans.

The SA has been undertaken in a broad and strategic manner, proportionate to the national-scale of the draft updated SMP-OWE. The assessments have been informed by the best available evidence at the time of assessment (September – December 2024) and are underpinned by a range of assumptions where information remains unknown. The assessments apply a scenario approach to stress test and better understand the potential constraints and opportunities associated with offshore wind.

It is recognised that a degree of precaution has been built into the plan level assessments and project level assessments will benefit from greater clarity and certainty around individual project details. We recognise that there is uncertainty, and a level of precaution associated with the impact assessments conducted for marine birds which is influencing the level of confidence in the information available to inform planning and consenting. We are building on evidence available to understand the uncertainty associated with offshore wind assessments for marine birds to inform the plan level Appropriate Assessment and are committed to using the best available evidence.

The development of the OAs at a national scale has the potential to have significant beneficial cumulative effects in terms of supporting a diverse and decarbonised energy sector and also contribute to a secure energy supply. Implementation of the draft updated Plan is anticipated to result in increased spend within the offshore wind supply chain, which is expected to support job creation, access to higher-skilled roles and training proposals across Scotland. Communities may see long-term positive impacts on facilities and possible flood risk reduction as a result of increased spend and re-development in certain areas.

All activity taking place in the marine environment has the potential to cause impact. Areas of key concern, and the issues most likely to constrain development from an environmental viewpoint, are the risk of collision and/or displacement for birds, navigational risk, and potential significant effects on landscapes and seascapes for developments located within 30 km of inhabited shoreline. With respect to impacts on other marine sectors, the key issue likely to present a consenting risk/constraint to development is displacement of fishing activity, however potential cost impacts to the tourism and recreation, shipping and subsea cables industries have also been identified. Wider social impacts are difficult to quantify and will be dependent on locations of shore-based supporting infrastructure and levels of in-migration to communities as a result of local job opportunities.

Key considerations, both nationally and regionally, draw from the findings of the plan level impact assessments. These key considerations can help to inform project design, project level assessment and decision making. Implementation of the draft updated Plan includes consideration of various factors, such as stakeholder engagement, transmission infrastructure, storage, construction and maintenance of devices, and project level considerations.

The potential for negative environmental and socio-economic impacts has been identified at both plan and project level. Impacts have been considered and addressed in line with the mitigation hierarchy, meaning to first avoid or prevent, then minimise or reduce, and then restore, compensate or offset. A number of plan and project level mitigation measures have been proposed, which are expected to be implemented through a variety of mechanisms including, but not limited to, government policy changes, strategic research programmes, developer-led action and licensing and consenting processes.

Proposals for plan level monitoring, in line with the requirements of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004, and changes to the use of evidence in place of the existing Iterative Plan Review (IPR) process have been proposed, which are being tested through this consultation.

The consultation on this draft updated SMP-OWE and the associated assessments will be open for a period of 12 weeks. Following the public consultation on this draft updated SMP-OWE, consultation analysis will be undertaken to provide a transparent analysis of responses received, aid in understanding of the views of individuals and organisations, and feed into the finalisation of the updated SMP-OWE. As part of the Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) process and based on the indicative findings presented in the HRA Appropriate Assessment Information Report (AAIR), further assessment of impacts will be conducted via an Appropriate Assessment (AA). The key findings outlined in the consultation analysis report, along with the key findings arising from the sustainability appraisal, will inform the development of the final updated SMP-OWE.