Spiorad na Mara – a proposed offshore windfarm, located approximately 5-13km off the west coast of the Isle of Lewis – is to undertake final consultation for the Onshore Transmission Works (OTW), commencing next week.
The purpose of the consultation is to share details of, and seek feedback on, the final onshore proposals, including the updated grid substation location which was recently consulted on in September and October 2025.
As part of this consultation, the project will provide a summary of the feedback received at the recent updated grid substation consultation held and subsequent responses to this feedback. The consultation will also include updated information, including photomontages and maps, relating to the proposed onshore grid substation location (near Arnish) and its associated infrastructure; and updated information on the proposed cycleway/multi-use path, which the project has committed to developing by re-purposing the temporary haul road that will be built alongside the Barvas Moor Road for construction purposes.
“This will be our final consultation before the submission of our planning consent applications in early 2026. I would like to thank everyone who has participated in our previous consultations, and encourage everyone to come out and participate, to provide feedback on our final onshore proposals,” said Martin Whyte, Project Director. “Feedback really can help inform how we continue to develop the project in a way that best addresses the desires and concerns of local people, whilst also taking into account relevant technical and environmental considerations.”
The consultation gets underway on Monday 24th November and runs until Wednesday 24th December 2025, with information being made available on the project’s website, and at the following three in-person events:
- Monday 24th November: 4pm to 8pm: Caladh Inn, Stornoway.
- Tuesday 25th November: 12 to 3pm: Borve House Hotel.
- Tuesday 25th November: 5 to 8pm: Barvas & Brue Community Hall.
Dedicated information clinic appointments for individuals or small groups who wish to further discuss specific aspects of the project, are also being made available.
Full details of the consultation activities and information will be made available on the project website at www.spioradnamara.co.uk when the consultation opens.
Awareness of the consultation and the activities that form part of it is being generated in a number of ways, including the delivery of an information leaflet to over 11,000 households and other properties across the HS1 and HS2 post codes and advertisements placed in local media outlets.
This consultation will not focus on any of the offshore elements of the project, as this process concluded with the second phase of public consultation held in June and July of this year.
In advance of this final onshore consultation, the project has published a document summarising the feedback received during the second phase of public consultation (PC2) on the whole project, which took place in June and July this year. This report is available on the project website here.
Spiorad na Mara is owned by Northland Power (75.5%) and ESB (24.5%), with Northland leading on the development, construction, and operation.
Contact:
Steve Thomas
Communications Lead, Northland Power
+44 (0)7359 614023
steve.thomas@northlandpower.com
About Spiorad na Mara
Spiorad na Mara is a proposed offshore wind farm, located approximately 5-13 km off the west coast of Lewis. With an expected installed capacity of around 900 MW, it could meet the equivalent average annual electricity needs of around 1.2 million1 Scottish homes with renewable electricity and save more than 1.7 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year.
Further information is available at www.spioradnamara.co.uk
1 More than 1.2 million homes powered per annum based on the average Scottish annual household electricity consumption of 3,078 kWh in 2022 (See source) together with a minimum projected 50% wind load factor and a projected installed capacity of up to 900MW.
About Northland Power
Northland Power is a Canada-based global power producer dedicated to accelerating the global energy transition. Founded in 1987, with almost four decades of experience, Northland has a long history of developing, owning and operating a diversified mix of energy infrastructure assets including offshore and onshore wind, solar, battery energy storage, and natural gas. Northland also supplies energy through a regulated utility.
Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with global offices in seven countries, Northland owns or has an economic interest in 3.5 GW of gross operating generating capacity, 2.2 GW under construction and an inventory of early to mid-stage development opportunities encompassing approximately 10 GW of potential capacity.
Publicly traded since 1997, Northland’s Common Shares, Series 1 and Series 2 Preferred Shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols NPI, NPI.PR.A and NPI.PR.B, respectively.
About ESB
ESB is involved in six offshore wind projects and 2GW of onshore wind projects in Scotland, as part of its drive for a 5GW renewable electricity portfolio across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain by 2030. Since its foundation almost 100 years ago, ESB has always been fully invested in the lives of the customers and communities we serve. We have set a target to achieve net zero by 2040 and have committed to do this in a way that enables communities and natural habitats to thrive. Our focus is on developing and connecting renewables, building resilient infrastructure and empowering our customers to live healthier, more sustainable lives using clean electricity.