Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP Alasdair Allan has welcomed the announcement by Crown Estate Scotland of the successful applicants in the Scotwind Leasing round.

17 projects, with a combined potential generating capacity of 25GW, have been offered the rights to specific areas of the seabed for the development of offshore wind power. Developers have been asked to give commitments to invest in the Scottish supply chain, providing opportunities for high quality green jobs for decades to come.

The seas off the Western Isles will host 3 of the projects, with a potential generating capacity of approximately 2.8GW.

Welcoming the news, Alasdair Allan MSP said:

“This is good news for our ambitions to achieve Net Zero and provide high quality green jobs.

“It is encouraging that the Stornoway Port Authority is a Project Partner with the project awarded to Magnora ASA. I am also pleased to see that Northland Power, who have been awarded the other two projects, have already engaged successfully with the Comhairle and other local stakeholders to the extent of signing a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the lasting benefits the projects will deliver to the Western Isles.

“It is critical now that the Western Isles receives a meaningful benefit from the windfarms that will be off our shores. I look forward to seeing the details of the supply chain commitments made by the applicants as part of their Supply Chain Development Statements which will be published once these agreements are officially signed. Communities will also want to see details of proposed community benefits, and I will be seeking the maximum possible public engagement on that.”

Details of the project awards are available at https://www.crownestatescotland.com/news/scotwind-offshore-wind-leasing-delivers-major-boost-to-scotlands-net-zero-aspirations