19th December 2024

2024 milestones keep Caledonia on track

Scroll Down

Positive, timely consideration of the consent application for the 2GW project in the Moray Firth, lodged with the relevant authorities in November, will in the immediate term facilitate significant investment in skills, the supply chain and job creation.

Equally as important, a green light for Caledonia – one of the few offshore wind projects in Scotland capable of going live by the end of the decade – will turbo-charge the country’s drive towards net zero, energy security and economic prosperity as part of the wider aims of the ScotWind leasing round.

It has been a busy year

In the summer, we selected engineering consultancy Wood Thilsted to develop structural foundation designs for our turbines. Building on the experience gained at Ocean Winds’ operational Moray East and recently completed Moray West projects, the milestone contract will create ideal solutions for our site conditions and the wider marine environment.

In the early autumn, Ocean Winds’ Supply Chain Impact Report outlined plans to invest up to £3.5 billion in the UK across the lifetime of Caledonia, with more than £46 million already committed through supply chain enabling investment – building on the critical competencies and infrastructure required to maximise the positive impacts of the offshore wind sector.

And throughout 2024, we engaged with partners to promote the skills development necessary to achieve the country’s net zero ambitions. This included, among a wide range of activities, funding a landmark pre-apprenticeship programme developed by Energy Skills Partnership and North East Scotland College, as well as – again in cooperation with ESP – financing augmented reality systems that are being used in welding training across Scottish colleges.

There is so much to gain

Ocean Winds is committed to building on its track record of investment in the Scottish and UK supply chain with a target of 60% local content across all stages of Caledonia. We are also supporting a just transition through proactive recruitment policies, and boast a proven pedigree of delivery in Scotland with our existing Moray East and Moray West projects.

The benefits ripple well beyond the Caledonia project itself, because progress before the end of the decade will translate into a series of wider wins for Scotland and the UK: acceleration towards green energy targets, support for a globally significant offshore supply chain and the increased innovation required to revolutionise the UK energy market.

There will, of course, be challenges ahead – not just for Caledonia, but the wider offshore wind sector. Longer lead times for the supply chain, rising costs of materials, grid capacity issues and a slow moving planning process could all impact on the ability of projects like
Caledonia to deliver.

Recently announced plans for an Offshore Wind Hub in Aberdeen to streamline project development and foster collaboration is a step in the right direction to address planning issues, but it will take months to emerge. Meantime, it’s critical that the excellent progress being made by the sector is not impeded by delays in the determination process.

Consultation and public engagement are ongoing, and everyone at Caledonia is of course proud of all we have achieved over the last 12 months. I’d like to thank each and every member of our team for their hard work in this milestone year for our project.

Our vision, our energy and our ambition remain resolutely focused on the horizon, and what our project – with action on all fronts – can contribute to Scotland, the UK and beyond.