The consenting process for the planned MarramWind offshore wind farm, off the Aberdeenshire coast, is underway.

MarramWind is a joint venture between ScottishPower and Shell. Located 75km off the north-east coast of Scotland, it will be among the world’s first large-scale commercial floating offshore wind farms, expected to generate up to 3GW of renewable energy from around 200 floating turbines.

The project was announced following success in the recent ScotWind auction process run by Crown Estate Scotland, the first leasing round in Scottish waters for a decade.

On behalf of WSP, ABPmer is supporting the project with key elements of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Marine ecologists in ABPmer’s Environment team are undertaking a benthic characterisation study, based on analysis of geophysical data acquired by the project. This will greatly enhance baseline understanding of the site and provide a robust basis for the assessment of potential impacts to benthic habitats.

Marine physical processes specialists at ABPmer will also be completing the geology, oceanography and physical process element of the EIA, as part of the consenting process. The assessment will consider the likely significant effects on marine physical process receptors that may arise from the construction, operation and decommissioning of the project and will be supported by the use of ABPmer’s SEASTATES validated hindcast metocean models.

Heidi Roberts, ABPmer Project Director said:

“We are delighted to support this important project, which could make key contribution to Scotland’s renewable energy generation, in support of the Scottish government’s target of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2045.

ABPmer brings a wealth of experience to the project, having completed EIA related studies for over 30 UK offshore wind projects, including Scotland’s Beatrice, Moray East and Moray West Wind Farms, as well as post-consent coastal processes and metocean support.”

MarramWind is expected to be operational by 2030.