Spiorad na Mara – a proposed offshore windfarm, located approximately 5-13km off the west coast of the Isle of Lewis – has today confirmed the submission of a planning consent application for the offshore elements of the project.
The application has been submitted to the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate – Licensing Operations Team, and covers the offshore infrastructure required to generate renewable electricity, including wind turbines, foundations, potential offshore substation, array cables, and offshore export cables.
If consented, Spiorad na Mara would have an anticipated capacity of 900 megawatts, enough to power the average annual electricity needs of around 1.2 million1 Scottish homes with renewable electricity and save more than 1.7 million tonnes of harmful carbon emissions every year.
The submission follows several years of detailed technical assessments, environmental surveys, community and stakeholder engagement and extensive public consultation. The application is supported by a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), which evaluates potential effects which may arise from the development on the environment, people and local communities and details the measures which will be taken to avoid, minimise or offset any impacts.
“Submitting the planning application for the offshore elements of Spiorad na Mara is a major milestone for the project,” said Martin Whyte, Project Director. “We are sincerely grateful for the constructive input received from stakeholders and the local community, whose engagement has played a vital role in shaping such a comprehensive and informed application. Offshore wind is essential to the transition to a low-carbon energy system, and Spiorad na Mara has the potential to deliver transformational economic benefits – supporting jobs, communities, and long-term population retention – while generating clean, secure power from one of the world’s most abundant wind resources.”
Formal notices giving details of the consultation period and how members of the public and other stakeholders can comment on the proposals will be published shortly in the Stornoway Gazette, the Edinburgh Gazette, The Herald and We Love Stornoway. The notice will also be published on the project website.
The onshore elements of the project, including the onshore cable routes, landfall, grid substation and potential landfall substation are being progressed separately and will be subject to their own consenting process, with a planning application expected to be submitted to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in the coming months.
Subject to the outcome of the planning processes, construction could begin in 2028/29, with the windfarm becoming operational in the early 2030s. Spiorad na Mara is owned by Northland Power (75.5%) and ESB (24.5%), with Northland leading on the development.
For further information on the project, please visit www.spioradnamara.co.uk.
Contact:
Steve Thomas
Communications Lead, Northland Power
+44 (0)7359 597354
steve.thomas@northlandpower.com
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 (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/regional-and-local-authority-electricity-consumption-statistics) together with a minimum projected 50% wind load factor and a projected installed capacity of up to 900MW.
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
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.