Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm, a proposed 2GW project being developed in the Moray Firth, is holding a series of public consultation events across Aberdeenshire to gather feedback on its onshore infrastructure including an underground transmission cable and a new electricity substation south of New Deer. 

Events will allow local communities to learn more and share their thoughts on the development’s onshore infrastructure plans and its approach to the Environment Impact Assessment process. Events will be held from 12-7pm across three days and three locations:  

• Banff (Banff Springs Hotel - 20 June),
• Turriff (Fife Arms Hotel – 21 June)
• and New Deer (St Kane’s Church Centre – 22 June).

A virtual consultation is also available for those unable to attend the events. Feedback can be provided here.

Submitted to Aberdeenshire Council in November 2022, the scoping report outlines proposals for the required onshore infrastructure elements and installation work. This infrastructure ensures the energy at the offshore site is delivered to the onshore National Grid point and onto consumers. The proposed infrastructure will consist of an underground cable landfall site on the West Aberdeenshire coast, a new electricity substation in the vicinity of New Deer and an underground cable route connecting the two sites. All land will be reinstated following the installation works and the only visible element will be the new electricity substation.

Mark Baxter, Project Director for Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm, commented: 
“Following the positive reception of our proposals for the offshore aspects of the project last year, this year we will be introducing the onshore elements of the project which are vital to get power to the homes and businesses where it will be used. 

“We know Caledonia is of significant interest to local communities and the team is committed to consulting extensively to ensure these views are taken onboard throughout to inform project development.”

Once fully commissioned – expected in 2030 – Caledonia will nearly double the Moray Firth’s ability to supply low-cost, low-carbon electricity, with expected capacity meeting the average electricity needs of around two million homes.

The 2GW Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm is planned to nearly double the Moray Firth’s ability to supply Scotland with local low-cost, low-carbon electricity.

Ocean Winds’ heritage extends back to the start of Scotland’s first commercial scale offshore wind project in the Moray Firth in 2010, the Moray East development. 

Moray East is nearby to Caledonia and the project led the world in offshore wind cost reduction. It is now supplying enough electricity to meet the needs of almost one million homes. Construction of Ocean Winds’ neighbouring Moray West development is about to begin.

Key Facts

2GW capacity
Learnings from Ocean Winds’ legacy in the area will enable the 2GW Caledonia site to produce large-scale green power quickly and cost-effectively.

Powering 2 million homes
It is expected that Caledonia will be capable of meeting the average electricity needs of around 2 million homes.

429km² ScotWind site
Ocean Winds won rights to develop the 429km² site in 2022 as one of 17 new offshore wind farm areas awarded during the ScotWind leasing process.

40km from the coastline
The site is close enough to shore to allow for AC transmission technology, reducing costs further.

KeyFacts Energy news: Aberdeen Focus