West of Orkney Windfarm submits onshore planning application

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/