West of Orkney Windfarm submits onshore planning application
The West of Orkney Windfarm has submitted an onshore planning application to The Highland Council for onshore works required to deliver renewable energy to homes and businesses across the country.
The onshore application provides detailed information on the proposed cable landfalls on the north Caithness coast, the project’s substation at or near Spittal in Caithness and the underground cables which will extend around 20km and connect to the substation.
Last year, the West of Orkney Windfarm secured the development rights to an area of seabed from Crown Estate Scotland in the highly competitive ScotWind leasing process to bring forward an offshore windfarm 30km west of the Orkney Mainland and 25km north of the Sutherland coast.
On 3 October this year, the project reached a major milestone by becoming the first ScotWind project to submit comprehensive offshore consent applications to Scottish Ministers, just 20 months after being awarded the site.
Mark Giulianotti, Head of Europe at Corio Generation and Chairman of the West of Orkney Windfarm said: “We are pleased to submit this application for onshore consent and continue the project’s positive and encouraging progress. Onshore connection is a vital step in the process and will enable us to send clean, renewable energy onto shore and into the homes of millions of Scottish consumers.
“The team has worked incredibly hard to engage with local communities, and to consider carefully the environmental and social impacts of onshore connection. All cables to our substation will be placed underground and land will be fully reinstated, in-keeping with our commitment to deliver this landmark project to the very highest of environmental standards. We are very excited to see these plans taking shape and moving one step closer to realising the immense benefits that West of Orkney Windfarm will bring to local and regional communicates and the wider Sottish nation.”
The West of Orkney Windfarm will have up to 125 turbines on fixed foundations, an expected capacity of around two gigawatts and aims to deliver first power in 2029. It is being developed by a joint venture comprising Corio Generation, TotalEnergies and Renewable Infrastructure Development Group (RIDG).
Once the planning application has been validated by The Highland Council, representations can be made directly to the council.
Read this story in full on the West of Orkney website: link tbc
For full details of the project please visit: https://www.westoforkney.com/
About Corio Generation
Corio Generation is a specialist offshore wind business dedicated to harnessing renewable energy worldwide. With a unique blend of sector-leading expertise and deep access to long-term capital, we work closely with our partners in the creation and management of projects from origination, development and construction, and into operations.
Corio has one of the world’s largest offshore wind project pipelines with more than 30 GW in development across Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Our project portfolio spans established and emerging markets, as well as floating and fixed-foundation technologies. These next generation offshore wind projects will help form the backbone of the net-zero global energy system while meeting the energy needs of communities and corporate offtakers sustainably, reliably, safely and responsibly.
Corio Generation is a portfolio company of Macquarie Asset Management operating on a standalone basis. For more information visit: coriogeneration.com.
About TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies is a global multi-energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, cleaner, more reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people.
About RIDG
RIDG – Renewable Infrastructure Development Group – is an independent, specialised offshore wind project development company with the knowledge and experience to identify and deliver high quality consented assets for strategic partners to build and operate.
RIDG presents a simpler, leaner and more flexible approach to project development, one that draws upon the strengths of both established and emerging suppliers to deliver projects safely, efficiently and cost effectively.