Vattenfall, Fred. Olsen Seawind Inaugurate Muir Mhòr Strategic Hub in Scotland

March 29, 2024, by Adnan Memija

The ScotWind-joint venture partners behind the Muir Mhòr Offshore Wind Farm project, Vattenfall and Fred. Olsen Seawind, have opened a new strategic hub dedicated to managing the floating offshore wind project.

Muir Mhor Strategic Hub — *Source: Muir Mhòr Offshore Wind Farm*

The new office, situated on Glasgow’s Bath Street, will serve as the base for all of Muir Mhòr’s development, consenting, early engineering, and management.

Fred. Olsen Seawind and Vattenfall won the rights to develop the offshore wind farm site, located 67 kilometres off the Scottish east coast, in the ScotWind seabed leasing round in 2022.

The joint venture partners said they are working on an accelerated project timescale with the ambition of generating in 2030 which would put the UK on track to meet its target of 5 GW of floating wind by 2030.

“The growing offshore wind industry has a vital role to play in turning Scotland into a renewables powerhouse. Floating offshore wind technology can drive forward our just transition – helping deliver a growing, greener, fairer economy,” said Scottish Government Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work Minister Gillian Martin MSP.

“The Scottish Government is investing up to £500 million over the next five years to anchor our offshore wind supply chain here in Scotland. We want to use that investment so ScotWind projects such as Muir Mhòr, can maximise – and even increase – the ambitions set out in their Supply Chain Development Statements.”

Having consulted on an early proposal with North East communities in November 2023, feedback on an updated proposal is currently being sought at a series of public engagement events, which are also taking place this week in Peterhead and Longside, according to the joint venture.

“We are delighted to be opening our new Glasgow office as a central base for our Scottish team, providing a dedicated space for core project operations, team collaboration and engagement with stakeholders in the Scottish Government, Crown Estate Scotland and wider agencies,” said David Hinshelwood, Project Director for Muir Mhòr Offshore Wind Farm.

At the beginning of this month, Ramboll wrapped up several engineering and advisory studies for Fred. Olsen Seawind and Vattenfall for the Muir Mhòr wind farm.

Once operational, the floating offshore wind project will be able to generate up to 1 GW of power, enough to provide electricity for over one million UK homes annually, said the partners.