A new wind farm development in Aberdeenshire has officially launched, accompanied by a major drive to unlock opportunities for oil and gas supply chain firms as part of a £1bn ScotWind project. Bowdun, a 1GW offshore wind project located 27 miles off Stonehaven, aims to accelerate the energy transition in the region while creating substantial benefits for local businesses and communities.
Bowdun represents a milestone for Scotland’s clean energy ambitions, with its Supply Chain Pathways Programme now open to encourage the participation of local companies at all stages of project delivery- from construction to ongoing maintenance. In addition, Thistle Wind Partners, the developer, has issued a call to oil and gas firms to join the renewable supply chain, enabling energy sector know-how and jobs to be retained in the region.
The development is expected to support hundreds of jobs and provide new opportunities for businesses with oil and gas expertise to diversify into renewables. The open invitation for companies to register their interest in contracts with the £1bn+ project signals strong intent to make the energy transition inclusive at a local level, leveraging skills already present in Aberdeenshire and beyond.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “Offshore wind provides a once in a generation opportunity to grow Scotland’s economy and support thousands of high-quality jobs, which is why the Scottish Government has committed up to £500 million over five years to grow our country’s supply chain.
Developers have committed to invest an average of £1.5 billion per project across the 20 ScotWind projects, and we expect to see that honoured.
Thistle Wind Partners’ Supply Chain Pathways Programme is an example of the public and private sectors working together to grow our supply chain companies and help them win contracts at home and abroad. This proactive approach keeps Scotland at the forefront of global offshore wind development.”
Project Director of the Bowdun Offshore Wind Farm Ian Taylor said: “Talk of the shift to renewables must be converted into action, delivering projects, creating jobs for local communities, and realising our national net zero ambitions.
“Bowdun aims to be a bridge between Scotland’s abundant offshore wind resource and its world-class oil and gas engineering capability. Working with DEME Offshore, this programme will help deliver value through Bowdun while supporting the supply chain to seize international opportunities.”
Once operational, Bowdun will power more than one million homes, with ambitions to invest over £1bn in the Scottish supply chain.
With a goal of delivering clean power to thousands of homes and businesses, Bowdun is reaffirming Aberdeenshire’s status as a leader in sustainable energy. The recent launch not only positions the region at the forefront of Scotland’s net zero targets but also ensures oil and gas firms have a prominent role in shaping the country’s future energy landscape.
