Crown Estate Scotland is will open a bidding window in June 2022 offering offshore leases for specific types of offshore wind projects.
The round will have two ‘pots’. One is for innovative wind projects sized at less than 100MW, which Net Zero and Energy Secretary Michael Matheson MSP said might include projects linked to green hydrogen production. The second pot is for larger projects connected to oil and gas infrastructure, with the aim of reducing carbon emissions associated with extracting fossil fuels.
Applicants will have to submit a Supply Chain Development Statement for their projects in the application phase, which includes commitments that set an anticipated level and location of expenditure. . Matheson said, “We expect engagement from the outset to help deliver supply chain commitments, and while these can be updated throughout the development phase, developers will ultimately be held to commitments.”