Inch Cape Wind Farm
{{Short description|Proposed offshore wind farm in Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox power station
| coordinates = {{Coord|56|30|N|2|10|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country = Scotland, UK
| location = East of Arbroath
| status = Proposed
| owner = Inch Cape Offshore Limited
| operator = Red Rock Renewables, ESB Group
| website = https://inchcapewind.com
}}
Inch Cape is a proposed offshore offshore wind farm off the east coast of Scotland, approximately {{Convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of Arbroath, Angus. It is named after the nearby Inchcape reef. The project has a potential capacity of 1080 MW. It is being developed by Inch Cape Offshore Limited (ICOL), an equal joint venture between Edinburgh-based Red Rock Renewables and Irish ESB Group's Energy for Generations.{{Cite web |title=Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm, North Sea, UK |url=https://www.power-technology.com/projects/inch-cape-offshore-wind-farm-north-sea-uk/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Power Technology |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Owners - Offshore Wind Farm |url=https://www.inchcapewind.com/about/inch-cape-offshore-limited/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Inch Cape Wind |language=en-US}}
The Inch Cape site covers an area of around {{Convert|150|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} with water depths of {{Convert|45|to|55|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It is located {{Convert|15|to|22|km|mi|abbr=on}} off the coast of Angus, with the boundary of the site {{Convert|8|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} to the north-east of Inchcape and the Bell Rock Lighthouse.{{Cite report |url=https://marine.gov.scot/data/inch-cape-offshore-windfarm-revised-design-eia-report |title=Inch Cape Offshore Windfarm (Revised Design) - EIA Report |date=15 August 2018 |publisher=marine.gov.scot |volume=1b |at=Ch.13 p.10 |access-date=2025-03-02}} The Inch Cape windfarm is to the north of the Neart Na Gaoithe Wind Farm and south-west of the Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm.{{Cite web |title=Current offshore wind projects {{!}} Crown Estate Scotland |url=https://www.crownestatescotland.com/scotlands-property/offshore-wind/current-projects |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241109041443/https://crownestatescotland.com/scotlands-property/offshore-wind/current-projects |archive-date=2024-11-09 |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=www.crownestatescotland.com |language=en}}
When complete, the windfarm will have 72 Vestas V236-15.0MW turbines, up to {{Convert|274|m|ft|-1||abbr=on}} high. It will also feature a 66/220 kV offshore substation. Power will be transmitted {{Convert|85|km|mi|abbr=on}} to shore via two 220 kV cables, with the onshore substation at the former Cockenzie power station in East Lothian, where it is connected to the National Grid. The subsea export cables are expected to be installed in 2025.{{Cite web |last=Sailo |first=Robert |date=2024-12-16 |title=Vestas wins 1.1GW order for Inch Cape offshore wind, Scotland |url=https://www.power-technology.com/news/vestas-inch-cape-offshore-wind/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Power Technology |language=en-US}} Construction of the onshore substation commenced in early 2023. Between autumn 2024 and summer 2025, a section of the John Muir Way around the former power station needed to be diverted.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-07 |title=Work at former Cockenzie Power Station forces John Muir Way diversion |url=https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/24702952.work-former-power-station-forces-john-muir-way-diversion/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=East Lothian Courier |language=en}}
The Monopile foundations for the turbines will be up to {{Convert|110
|m|ft|-1||abbr=on}} long, with a maximum diameter of {{Convert|11.5
|m|ft|-1||abbr=on}} and mass of 2,500 tonnes. These will be installed by Jan De Nul, with work expected to commence late in 2025, using a newly built quayside at the Port of Leith.{{Cite web |date=27 February 2025 |title=Jan De Nul to install foundations for Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm |url=https://www.windtech-international.com/projects-and-contracts/jan-de-nul-to-install-foundations-for-inch-cape-offshore-wind-farm |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Windtech International}}
Planning and consenting
In June 2011 ICOL was awarded an exclusivity agreement from The Crown Estate for the development area. This was in response to a 2008 call for proposals for offshore windfarms in Scottish coastal waters.{{Cite report |url=https://marine.gov.scot/data/inch-cape-offshore-windfarm-revised-design-eia-report |title=Inch Cape Offshore Windfarm (Revised Design) - EIA Report |date=15 August 2018 |publisher=marine.gov.scot |volume=1a |at=Ch.1 p.2–5 |access-date=2025-03-02}}
In 2014, the project gained the necessary consents for the offshore works, "Section 36" and Marine Licences, to build a windfarm of up to 110 turbines with a total power of 784 MW.
In 2016, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) successfully challenged the plans to build the Inch Cape, Neart na Gaoithe, plus Seagreen Alpha and Bravo windfarms.{{Cite web |date=2016-07-21 |title=RSPB wins legal challenge to put offshore wind farms on hold |url=https://www.scottishlegal.com/articles/rspb-wins-legal-challenge-to-put-offshore-wind-farms-on-hold |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Scottish Legal News |language=en}} This was reversed in May 2017 following appeal by the Scottish Government.{{Cite news |date=2017-05-16 |title=Judge overturns Firth of Forth and Firth of Tay wind farms block |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-39934095 |access-date=2025-03-02 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} In November 2017, RSPB Scotland was refused permission to appeal this decision in the Supreme Court.{{Cite news |date=2017-11-07 |title=Judges throw out bid to block Forth and Tay wind farms |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-41903653 |access-date=2025-03-02 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
A revised proposal was submitted in August 2018, for a reduced number of larger turbines, which was stated to improve the project economics.{{Cite report |url=https://marine.gov.scot/data/inch-cape-offshore-windfarm-revised-design-eia-report |title=Inch Cape Wind Farm - Non Technical Summary |date=15 August 2018 |publisher=marine.gov.scot |access-date=2025-03-02}} The proposed rotor diameter was increased to {{Convert|250|m|ft|abbr=on}} from the previous {{Convert|172|m|ft|abbr=on}}, with maximum tip height increased to {{Convert|291|m|ft|abbr=on}} from {{Convert|215|m|ft|abbr=on}}. However, the number of turbines was reduced to just 72 from the original 110, and the number of offshore substation platforms and export cables limited at two, rather than five and six previously. The revised proposal was granted in September 2019.{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Jules |date=2019-09-06 |title=Inch Cape offshore wind project granted consent for fewer turbines |url=https://www.powersystemsuk.co.uk/inch-cape-offshore-wind-project-granted-consent-for-fewer-turbines/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Powersystems UK Ltd |language=en-US}}
In August 2021, the Section 36 consent was amended to remove the 1 GW limit on the project size, which permits the use of more powerful turbines within the original size limits.{{Cite web |last=Durakovic |first=Adnan |date=2021-08-05 |title=Inch Cape Cleared to Go Beyond 1 GW Capacity |url=https://www.offshorewind.biz/2021/08/05/inch-cape-cleared-to-go-beyond-1-gw-capacity/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Offshore Wind |language=en-US}}
The project was awarded Contracts for Difference for 1080 MW under Allocation Round 4 in 2022, at 37.35 £2012/MWh.{{Cite web |title=Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 4: results (accessible webpage) |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/contracts-for-difference-cfd-allocation-round-4-results/contracts-for-difference-cfd-allocation-round-4-results-accessible-webpage |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} In September 2024, 266.11 MW of this was awarded a higher price of 54.23 £2012/MWh under the Offshore Wind Permitted Reduction scheme.{{Cite web |title=Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 6: results (accessible webpage) |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/contracts-for-difference-cfd-allocation-round-6-results/contracts-for-difference-cfd-allocation-round-6-results-accessible-webpage |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}
Construction
File:Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm onshore substation works at old Cockenzie Power Station.jpg
Siemens Energy were awarded the contract to construct the substations for the project, both offshore and onshore.{{Cite web |last=Memija |first=Adnan |date=2024-01-23 |title=Inch Cape Onshore Substation Work Kicks Off |url=https://www.offshorewind.biz/2024/01/23/inch-cape-onshore-substation-work-kicks-off/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Offshore Wind |language=en-US}}
In January 2024, construction of the onshore substation started. The works are being undertaken for Siemens Energy by civil engineering contractor Careys.