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

Planning Elements

The draft updated SMP-OWE provides the strategic spatial framework for offshore wind development in Scottish waters (Figure 2). It refines the spatial footprints for development set out in the SMP-OWE (2020) and the INTOG IPF, using the areas that were awarded lease options and exclusivity agreements through CES’s ScotWind and INTOG leasing rounds. The refined spatial footprint remains within the Plan Options set out in the SMP-OWE (2020) for ScotWind projects, and within the designated areas for TOG projects or outside the exclusion zones for IN projects set out in the INTOG IPF. The spatial extent of the Option Areas considered in this draft updated SMP-OWE are defined below alongside key parameters and considerations for development within these OAs. The term OA is used in this draft updated SMP-OWE as opposed to Plan Options to acknowledge the various stages of projects since the SMP-OWE (2020) and INTOG IPR, however for the purposes of NMP (2015) Renewables Policy 1 it equates to Plan Options.

This draft updated SMP-OWE can be used as a material consideration to inform decisions with regards to offshore wind in Scottish waters.

Option Areas

This draft updated SMP-OWE and the associated assessment of impacts covers and is applicable to all OAs outlined in Figure 2 below, regardless of the current development status of individual projects. This draft updated SMP-OWE does not set out specific OAs to spatially define development areas for T&D projects.

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 NMP. RLG has also been prepared to support further project level spatial planning for consideration by developers and regulators.

It is not possible to determine the exact timing, scale, design, and technology of future development within the OAs, which are subject to factors outwith the control of the draft updated SMP-OWE. For example, individual projects may be shaped by further technical, environmental or economic constraints related to project level factors, such as the location, scale or timing of the project.

Parameters – ScotWind

Consistent with the SMP-OWE (2020), all ScotWind projects should be commercial-scale offshore wind energy developments. In line with SMP-OWE (2020), commercial-scale offshore wind projects continue to be defined as projects capable of generating more than 100 MW of electricity.

ScotWind projects should be developed only within the OAs set out in this draft updated SMP-OWE (Figure 2) rather than in the wider POs set out in the SMP-OWE (2020).

Parameters – INTOG

The following additional constraints for INTOG projects, consistent with the INTOG IPR, apply for all INTOG projects.

For IN projects, individual projects should not exceed 100MW potential generation capacity. There remains a maximum overall generating capacity for all IN projects of 500 MW and a maximum total area of seabed to be offered Option Agreements of 167 km².

For TOG projects, overall generation capacity should not exceed 5.7 GW^[4] and the total area of seabed to lease should not exceed 1900 km².

Parameters – Test and Demonstration Projects

No more than a total of 1 GW of installed capacity for T&D projects should be leased. This capacity should be equally available in each of the five regions outlined in this draft updated Plan (West, North, Shetland, North East, and East), with no more than 200 MW leased per region.

Any project will be subject to CES leasing processes. Sites are likely to be relatively smaller (no larger than 100 MW of generation capacity) and they should not be located in a site already covered by an existing CES Seabed Agreement or in a Marine Protected Area (MPA).The rationale (purpose, aims and objectives) with the purpose of any T&D project will need to be clear. Potential rationales could include research on components or whole turbine technology in an ‘at sea’ environment, testing of technology types, or certification of offshore wind infrastructure. However, this list is for guidance only and not intended to be exhaustive or restrictive. The site identified should be within a single contiguous boundary and be of a scale proportionate with the proposed activity.

Any proposals for T&D projects are subject to the standard marine licensing and section 36 consenting processes (where appropriate) including project level environmental and other assessments.