Aberdeenshire has granted key onshore planning approvals for two significant offshore wind projects, the 2GW Caledonia development by Ocean Winds and the 1GW Buchan Offshore Wind farm. These approvals mark a substantial step forward for Scotland’s renewable energy ambitions, promising thousands of jobs and billions in investment for the local supply chain.
Ocean Winds’ Caledonia project, situated in the Moray Firth adjacent to its operational Moray East and Moray West developments, received consent from Aberdeenshire Council for its underground cable corridor. This infrastructure is designed to link the project’s consented substation at Burnside with the planned SSEN Transmission substation at Greens. Once operational, the 2GW Caledonia wind farm is projected to generate sufficient electricity to power approximately two million homes annually.
Mark Baxter, Caledonia project director, welcomed the council’s decision, stating: “We welcome Aberdeenshire Council’s decision to grant consent for this important onshore infrastructure, which represents another significant step forward for the Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm.”
He emphasised the importance of the approved cable connection for integrating the project into the national electricity grid and supporting both Scotland’s and the UK’s energy transition objectives. Mr Baxter also highlighted the project’s role in establishing the Moray Firth as a significant clean energy hub.
Buchan Offshore Wind also secured consent for its onshore infrastructure, which includes a landfall at Rattray Head and a 20-kilometre underground cable route. This route will connect the floating offshore wind farm to a new substation near Peterhead, which will then link to the existing SSEN Transmission network.
Located around 75 kilometres north-east of Fraserburgh, the 1GW floating wind farm is anticipated to power around one million homes. Developers indicate that the project could see more than £900 million invested in Scotland’s manufacturing and supply chain sectors, creating approximately 2,900 jobs during peak construction and nearly 300 long-term operational roles.
Clare Lavelle, project director for Buchan Offshore Wind, commented: “We welcome this timely determination by Aberdeenshire Council, which represents another significant step forward for Buchan Offshore Wind.”
“Securing consent for our onshore infrastructure reflects the careful design work and extensive engagement undertaken to reduce environmental impacts while enabling this major renewable energy project to connect to the grid.”
Ms Lavelle underscored the project’s potential to anchor large-scale manufacturing in Scotland and unlock substantial supply chain investment.
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However, the Scottish wind sector also faced a setback as Chinese turbine manufacturer Ming Yang Smart Energy confirmed its intention to establish a European manufacturing facility outside Scotland.
This decision follows the UK Government’s effective blocking of its proposed £1.5 billion Scottish factory on national security grounds.
Horatio Evers, chief executive of Ming Yang Europe, affirmed the company’s commitment to European production: “We want to build and manufacture our technology here in Europe with a European workforce. We would invest in a factory in a country, if we have the guarantee that our turbines are eligible for the market.”
