The Neart na Gaoithe (‘Strength of the Wind’) offshore wind farm will cover an area of approximately 100km2. It’s located in the outer Forth Estuary, 15km off the Scottish east coast near Fife. Mainstream was awarded the site in February 2009 by The Crown Estate as part of a competitive bidding process.
Mainstream’s bid was the culmination of extensive site selection, analysis and stakeholder engagement and was chosen because it combines technical, economic and environmental deliverability.
Mainstream has commenced the environmental assessment and technical design processes, completed key seabed and met ocean surveys and secured a firm grid connection agreement to support the project’s target construction start date in 2014. The project has the potential to generate up to 450MW of renewable energy, enough power to supply over 300,000 Scottish homes – more than the whole of Edinburgh. It will offset over 400,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year, as well as make a significant contribution towards the delivery of the UK and European renewable energy targets.
Milestones achieved:
- Secured firm grid connection for 2014.
- Site complies with the Scottish Government’s Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for offshore wind.
- Scoping Report submitted to the Scottish Government and a Scoping Opinion received from the Scottish Government in early 2010.
- Successful series of consultation events held with local stakeholders throughout 2010 and early 2011.
- Completed geophysical, preliminary geotechnical and met ocean campaigns.
- Bird survey program on target for completion October 2011.
- Commenced EIA of the onshore cable and grid connection, April 2011.
Click here for more information on our Neart na Gaoithe project.
