Updated Offshore Wind Policy Statement: island communities impact assessment

Step One – Develop a clear understanding of your objectives:

• What are the objectives of the policy, strategy or service?
• What are the intended impacts/outcomes and how do these potentially differ in the islands?
• Is the policy, strategy or service new?

The original Offshore Wind Policy Statement was published in 2020. It was a high-level document setting out the Scottish Government’s (SG) GW offshore wind ambition at that time.

The updated Offshore Wind Policy Statement (uOWPS), informed by a public consultation undertaken during Summer 2025, increases the SG’s policy GW ambition following the Scotwind and Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing rounds. It outlines the progress made on key policy and regulatory areas since the original statement was published, while setting out key areas of focus going forward.

As the uOWPS is high-level and strategic, it does not have differential implications for island communities over communities in the mainland of Scotland. It is a continuation of an existing policy, seeking to review progress made since 2020 while outlining key high-level areas which SG and other stakeholders – including the UK Government – should focus on in years to come in order to achieve the increased ambition.