ScotWind offshore wind leasing delivers major boost to Scotland’s net zero aspirations

January 17, 2022 | Renewables | Energy Facts Staff Writer | 3min

Crown Estate Scotland has today announced the outcome of its application process for ScotWind Leasing, the first Scottish offshore wind leasing round in over a decade and the first ever since the management of offshore wind rights were devolved to Scotland.

The results coming just months after Glasgow hosted the global COP26 climate conference show the huge opportunity that Scotland has to transform its energy market and move towards a net zero economy.

Highlights include:

  • 17 projects have been selected out of a total of 74 applications, and have now been offered option agreements which reserve the rights to specific areas of seabed
  • A total of just under £700m will be paid by the successful applicants in option fees and passed to the Scottish Government for public spending
  • The area of seabed covered by the 17 projects is just over 7,000km2 (a maximum of 8,600km2 was made available through the Scottish Government’s Sectoral Marine Plan)
  • Initial indications suggest a multi-billion pound supply chain investment in Scotland
  • The potential power generated will provide for the expanding electrification of the Scottish economy as we move to net zero.
  • The details of the 17 applicants who have been offered option agreements can be found below and in the downloads section.