Updated Offshore Wind Policy Statement: island communities impact assessment

Step Two – Gather your data and identify your stakeholders:

• What data is available about the current situation in the islands?
• Do you need to consult?
• How does any existing data differ between islands?
• Are there any existing design features or mitigations in place?

The uOWPS is a high-level policy statement setting out the Scottish Government’s updated ambition for the Offshore Wind sector across the whole of Scotland.

The ScotWind and INTOG leasing rounds, which make up the vast majority of Scotland’s offshore wind pipeline, relate to specific Option Areas, which are being considered through work to develop the Updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE). An Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) has been carried out as part of the development of the Updated SMP-OWE. Its purpose is to determine whether the implementation of the Updated SMP-OWE may have differential impacts to island communities across Scotland.

Several major ScotWind and INTOG offshore wind projects are located close to island communities, including the West of Orkney project (located 30km off the west coast of Orkney), and lease options awarded to a number of projects located around islands such as Shetland (Stoura and Arven); Western Isles (Havbredey, Talisk and Spiorad na Mara); Colonsay, Mull and Islay (MachairWind and Malin Sea Wind).

The uOWPS is not recommending any new policy or legislation that will have a material effect on either island communities or the mainland.