Buchan Offshore Wind (ScotWind)

Commercial-scale project under development

CONTEXT AND TIMELINE OF THE TENDER

BW Ideol has participated in the "ScotWind" call for tenders launched by Crown Estate Scotland in 2020 alongside BayWa and Elicio as part of the consortium "Floating Energy Allyance", today known as "Buchan Offshore Wind". In support to the applications, two grid connections have been secured from National Grid ESO in July 2021. 

A PARTNERSHIP OF THREE LEADING EUROPEAN ENERGY BUSINESSES

BayWa r.e., a leading global renewable energy business with a strong presence in Scotland that includes more than 75 employees and 890 MW of onshore wind projects under management. 

Elicio is an energy developer and producer active in the renewable energy sector, and more particularly in onshore and offshore wind in France, Belgium as well as internationally. Elicio is owner of significant participations in the Belgian offshore wind projects Norther, Rentel and SeaMade.

BW Ideol has also signed a formal partnership agreement with the Ardesier Port Authority, renamed Ardersier Energy Transition Facility and now operated by Haventus. Under this agreement, BW Ideol has gained an exclusive and long-term access to Ardersier Port for the manufacturing of concrete floaters and both Parties have agreed to explore the set-up of a serial production line dedicated to the delivery of locally manufactured floating wind substructures based on BW Ideol’s proven Damping Pool ® technology. The Ardersier Port site is the largest brownfield port in the United Kingdom. The site comprising 400 acres of port area with access to a 2.2km quay and 350 acres of statutory harbour authority has been identified as one of three sites on the East coast of the United Kingdom with the size, scale, shape, and location capable of being an Offshore Renewable Energy Hub Port. By signing this partnership, BW Ideol is securing a unique access to a strategic asset, unlocking the bottleneck of port infrastructure availability in Scotland.

RESULT

On Monday 17 January 2022, Crown Estate Scotland announced the Floating Energy Allyance has secured the rights to develop a floating offshore wind farm with an approximate capacity of 1GW off the northeast coast of Scotland.

The ‘option agreement’ is for the area designated NE8 in the Scottish Government’s Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind, which is located some 75km to the northeast of Fraserburgh on the Aberdeenshire coast. 

UPCOMING STEPS 

• FEA has entered into an Option Lease Agreement with CES in April 2022. This significant milestone allows the consortium to proceed with the environmental studies required for the consent application process. The Allyance is also re-engaging with key stakeholders and progressing further work on design as it moves towards developing detailed proposals for the project ahead of applying for consent. BW Ideol has signed with FEA an engineering service agreement and a technology licence agreement on January 14, 2022, securing revenues for BW Ideol in relation to the project over the coming years.

• The FEA changed its name to become Buchan Offshore Wind. In September 2023, Buchan Offshore Wind submitted an EIA Scoping Report for the offshore wind farm and connection to shore, receiving a Scoping Opinion from the Marine Directorate in December 2023. Buchan Offshore Wind will be bringing forward its EIA Scoping Report and undertaking further consultation with stakeholders and the public throughout 2024 as the development of the offshore and onshore project elements continues.

• Buchan Offshore Wind has submitted in August 2025 its offshore consent applications to Scottish Ministers. 

PROJECT LAST NEWS

Buchan Offshore Wind submit offshore consent applications 

Buchan Offshore Wind Awards New Contracts Worth More Than £1.5m

Work starts on Ardersier Port transformation

BW Ideol and Ardersier Port Authority have signed a strategic partnership agreement

Buchan Offshore Wind Website