ScottishPower and Shell were awarded the seabed rights to develop two new floating wind projects through Crown Estate Scotland’s ScotWind Leasing at the start of the year, namely the

MarramWind joint venture off the north-east coast of Scotland (3GW), and the

CampionWind joint venture off the east coast of Scotland (2GW). In addition, ScottishPower was awarded the seabed rights for a fixed foundation project off the coast of Islay – MachairWind at 2GW.

Each of the floating projects will benefit from a £25 million supply chain stimulus fund from ScottishPower and Shell, with a £25 million fund linked to MachairWind provided by ScottishPower alone. The funds are designed to help create new offshore wind capability in Scotland that would not otherwise be possible.

Melissa Read, UK Offshore Wind business manager, Shell said, commented: “These funds are in addition to direct project investment in supply chain facilities and will directly support the Scottish supply chain. This includes businesses keen to make the transition to the renewables sector through investment in infrastructure, facilities that will manufacture and service offshore wind projects and support for companies to innovate and upskill.”

Applications to the funds will open up later in the year. Online supply chain registration portals for all three projects are now live, giving organisations the chance to get involved in working with ScottishPower and Shell to ‘shape the next chapter for the offshore wind industry.’