ScotWind is Coming!
The ScotWind leasing round, launched by Crown Estate Scotland in 2022, marked a tectonic shift for offshore wind development in the North Sea. It was the world’s largest commercial leasing round for floating offshore wind, awarding seabed rights to 20 projects — 14 of which are planned as floating wind farms.
The projects totals approximately 19.2 GW of floating wind capacity. The government’s expectation for the leasing round was 10 GW, but the industry almost doubled that figure.
ScotWind has positioned Scotland as a global leader in the development of floating offshore wind and offers a once in a generation opportunity to create a major new sector that will drive investment, deliver thousands of jobs and provide economic prosperity in the decades to come.
(Emma Harrick, Director of Energy Transition and Supply Chain at Scottish Renewables)
Matured wind
The ScotWind projects are now being matured and are approaching offtake agreements, final investment decisions (FIDs), and consequently, substantial investments. The estimated total investment for ScotWind projects over the next decade is around €90 billion (£80 billion). These figures represent significant commercial opportunities for the supply chain in both Norway and Scotland, potentially driving major investments in ports and other infrastructure that the industry has long called for.
Supported by a highly-skilled supply chain drawing on its deepwater and engineering expertise, Scotland is preparing for offshore wind farms to be built right around our coast, from Islay in the west to Lewis and Orkney in the north and right down the east coast.
(Emma Harrick)
Attend Floating Offshore Wind 2025
For the latest updates on the Scottish floating offshore wind market — and to meet key stakeholders — you should attend Floating Offshore Wind 2025, taking place on 12–13 November, organised by Scottish Renewables. This event is the floating offshore wind sector’s equivalent of Holmenkollsøndag or the Braemar Gathering – a flagship event full of energy, tradition, and networking opportunities. Norwegian Offshore Wind (NOW) considers this event the place to be and has arranged several activities for its members.
The Floating Offshore Wind 2025 conference will bring together more than 2,000 attendees from across the world to discuss the future of this groundbreaking technology as the sector begins to take shape globally.
(Emma Harrick)
Norwegians are very welcome
Harrick emphasises that the UK and Norway already have a longstanding energy partnership, which was further strengthened when both governments agreed to combine their exceptional capabilities in clean energy.
I look forward to welcoming a range of these world-class Norwegian organisations to Aberdeen.
Emma Harrick
And she highlights many opportunities for supply chain collaboration, such as the Clean Energy Cluster Concrete Workshop taking place on the first day of the conference.
Norwegian Offshore Wind has set up several initiatives for its members.
We are arranging a seminar to establish partnerships between ports across the North Sea.
Alfred Risan, leader of the working group for UK
And if you haven't already joined our working group for UK, you'll find the way to sign up here.
CfD Auction – Allocation Round 7 (AR7)
The main changes in AR7 are:
- Extended Contract Length: Floating offshore wind projects are now eligible for 20-year CfD contracts, up from the previous 15 years, improving long-term revenue stability.
- Separate Clearing Prices: Scottish offshore wind projects (including floating) now have separate clearing pricesto reflect regional differences.
- Increased Strike Price Ceiling: For floating offshore wind, the AR7 strike price ceiling has been increased to £271/MWh.
- Support for Test & Demonstration Projects: AR7 includes dedicated support for multiple test and demonstration-scale FLOW projects.
- Phased CfD Contracts: Floating wind projects can now apply for and operate under phased CfD contracts, similar to fixed-bottom projects, aligning better with supply chain capabilities.
- Clean Industry Bonus Eligibility: Competitive revenue uplift for projects investing in UK-based supply chains – offering £20.1 million per GW, with a total budget of £544 million, to incentivize local and sustainable sourcing.
- Regulatory and Contractual Reforms: Updates to eligibility criteria and auction rules tailored to the unique challenges of floating wind. AR7 introduces reforms designed to restore investor confidence and accelerate offshore wind deployment.
Criteria for Participating in a CfD Auction
Projects must:
- Have seabed rights (e.g., via ScotWind or INTOG)
- Be in advanced development stages, including environmental assessments and grid connection planning
- Submit a Supply Chain Plan approved by the Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC)
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