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Energy big names including Shell, Ocean Winds and Eni, join the race for Scottish offshore wind slots


By Calum MacLeod

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The ScotWind leasing round is the first round of offshore wind leasing in Scottish waters for a decade.
The ScotWind leasing round is the first round of offshore wind leasing in Scottish waters for a decade.

Major names from the energy sector have put forward their named for the latest round of offshore wind leasing just ahead of this afternoon's application deadline.

Interested parties have until just 5pm today (July 16) to register their interest in ScotWind Leasing, the first round of offshore wind leasing in Scottish waters for a decade.

Shell has joined forces with Scottish Power in a joint bid, while Italian oil giant Eni has already registered an interest.

Danish company Ørsted, which has built more offshore wind projects than any other company in the world, has also partnered with onshore wind community engagement pioneer Falck Renewables and floating wind expert BlueFloat Energy to join the auction for the next generation of wind farms at 15 seabed areas.

And today, Ocean Winds – the lead developer of Scotland’s largest wind farm, 950MW Moray East – has confirmed that it is participating in the ScotWind leasing round.

OW is making bids for five sites, both floating and fixed, including three bids in partnership with Aker Offshore Wind, details of which will be published in the coming weeks.

A spokesman for OW said: “Scotwind makes available, for the first time in over a decade, new areas of seabed for development of offshore wind. Low cost, low carbon power is vital to the decarbonisation agenda, and it is essential that the process selects trusted, reliable, committed developers who have a track record of delivery in Scotland and can be trusted to turn Scotland’s excellent renewable potential into the reality of operational generation assets.

“Ocean Winds has taken Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm from a concept to an operating reality. We have high ambitions for producing power in the challenging conditions of northern waters, together with the skills, experience and dedication to realise those ambitions.

“We look forward to detailing our plans in the coming weeks.”

Ben Miller, senior policy manager at Scottish Renewables, commented: “Offshore wind developers from across the world have recognised Scotland’s renewables potential, and have worked incredibly hard in challenging times to be able to submit their project bids today.

“This is a huge year for Scotland, with COP26 coming to Glasgow, and the outcome of this process will confirm our ambition to be a world leader in deploying new offshore wind technologies.

“We look forward to the leasing results, and for the further expansion of an industry which is already creating major economic and environmental benefits right across the country.”


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