Shell announces a strategic decision to withdraw from its joint-venture floating offshore wind development in Scottish waters, as part of a swap deal with partner ScottishPower Renewables, and in line with Shell’s broader business-strategy realignment.

Key Elements of the Agreement

• Shell and ScottishPower had been joint equity partners in two major floating offshore wind projects under the ScotWind leasing round: the 3 GW MarramWind and the 2 GW CampionWind. 
• Under the swap arrangement, Shell transfers its stake in MarramWind to ScottishPower, which will become the sole developer of that project. 
• In return, Shell assumed exclusive responsibility for CampionWind, but has now opted to return the lease for CampionWind to Crown Estate Scotland, thereby relinquishing development rights for the project.

Shell’s decision follows a comprehensive strategic review of its renewable-energy portfolio. The company has concluded that the scale, cost-profile and technology maturity of these floating offshore wind projects do not align with its current focus, which is shifting toward power trading, retail energy solutions and leveraging its core hydrocarbon and energy-transition strengths.

Shell emphasises that floating wind remains a promising technology—with the potential to tap high-wind zones away from shore—but it also carries elevated costs, technical complexity and slower path to commercial scale, especially in the UK market context.

Implications for UK and Scottish Offshore Wind

• ScottishPower, now sole developer of MarramWind, confirms its ongoing commitment to progress this ~3 GW floating project off the north-east coast of Scotland (water depths ~110 m, approximately 75 km offshore).
• The future of the CampionWind site (2 GW, ~100 km offshore, depths ~77 m) is now under review by Crown Estate Scotland. Shell will not proceed with that development under its prior arrangement.
• The move represents a setback for the UK’s ambitions in floating wind at scale. Observers note this may slow development momentum in the sector, unless cost-and-policy dynamics improve.

KeyFacts Energy: Shell UK country profile   l   ScottishPower Renewables UK country profile