From Amy Needham, Communications Manager, Thistle Wind Partners.
Thistle Wind Partners (TWP), a consortium of DEME Concessions, Qair and Aspiravi, has announced that it is naming its new offshore wind farm after one of Stonehaven’s coastal landmarks – Bowdun Head.
The 1GW Bowdun Offshore Wind Farm will be located off the coast of Stonehaven in the E3 ScotWind leasing zone, which covers an area of 187km2. Bowdun Head points directly out to the zone, which lies at a distance of 44km from shore.
The offshore wind farm, planned for construction between 2029-2032, is anticipated to number between 50 and 60 turbines (depending upon final design choices). The turbines will be ‘next-generation’ (with capacity between 18MW and 25MW each) and will be fixed to the seabed on jacket foundations. When it is finally commissioned, the project will produce enough power for an estimated 1.2 million households.
Bowdun Offshore Wind Farm and TWP’s other site, Ayre Offshore Wind Farm (a floating wind project to the east of Orkney), are currently in their planning phases.
Bird and mammal surveys are already underway at both sites using high-precision technologies from environmental consultancy APEM. APEM’s innovative use of LiDAR means that they can measure bird flight heights to within 10cm accuracy. This surveying work will continue, alongside vessel surveys of the seabed and engagement with local fisheries, for the next two years.
Since early 2022, TWP has been actively engaging with supply chain and ports in the North East of Scotland. The developer says that it is taking a ‘technology agnostic’ stance to procurement and welcomes offerings from Scottish SMEs, local businesses, and renewables market entrants alike.
“When choosing the wind farm’s name, we wanted something that would be meaningful for people in Aberdeenshire,” says TWP Project Director Ian Taylor. “With the wind farm expected to have a ten-year development period and then be in the water for a further 25 years or more, we hope to build long-term relationships with businesses and communities in the region.”
“Many of today’s schoolchildren could one day join us and the wider renewables industry as engineers, technology developers, marine scientists, and in many other roles. We hope that we can help to promote the renewables industry, and STEM subjects more widely, through our presence here.”
TWP begins its formal public consultations for the Bowdun Offshore Wind Farm next year. In the meantime, the company will have a stand at this year’s Feein Market on 3rd June in Stonehaven with follow-up events planned.