Ossian Submits Array Consent Application to Scottish Gov’t

July 15, 2024, by Adnan Memija

The Scottish Government has received a consent application for the offshore array of the 3.6 GW Ossian floating wind project, being co-developed by SSE Renewables, Marubeni Corporation, and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP).

*Image: Ossian’s offshore array location: Source: Ossian Offshore Wind Farm Limited*

The scope of this application covers the generating assets and transmission platforms within the offshore array, with the offshore export cables and onshore infrastructure being progressed under separate consenting processes.

Consultation and investigation work has taken place over the past three years to assess the project’s 858-square-kilometre site, located 84 kilometres off the Aberdeenshire coast.

According to Ossian, the project team has consulted with over 30 organisations including regulatory and industry bodies across nature conservation, fisheries, aviation, and shipping and navigation, to ensure the application is reflective of their views.

“We have submitted a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment report to the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate, and we’re committed to continuing engagement with the statutory consultees and wider stakeholder community,” said Rich Morris, Ossian’s development lead.

“We are confident this submission will support the timely delivery of the UK’s largest floating offshore wind farm ensuring Ossian is ready to take full advantage of ongoing grid reforms and National Grid ESO’s move to a ‘first ready, first connected’ model.”

Ossian’s team collaborated with other ScotWind developers to document the habits of bird populations in the wider North Sea region, according to the press release.

The survey involved four aircraft flying simultaneously once a month to collect high-definition images across an 11,550-square-kilometre area in the North Sea and took 690 hours to finish.

In November 2023, Ossian also became the first ScotWind floating offshore wind farm to complete essential geotechnical surveys.

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Earlier this year, a year-long metocean data gathering campaign collecting information relating to wave heights, currents, tides, and sediment movements was concluded, said Ossian.

At up to 3.6 GW of installed capacity, Ossian would be among the largest floating offshore wind farms globally.

Once operational, the project would be capable of generating enough renewable energy to power up to six million homes annually.