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About Inch Cape
The 1.1 gigawatt (GW) Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm, is located in the North Sea, 15 kilometres from the Angus coast on a site covering 150 square kilometres. It will feature up to 72 wind turbines and a single offshore substation. The power it generates will be transported 85 kilometres via export cables to a new substation being built on the East Lothian coast at the site of the former Cockenzie Power Plant. From there it will enter the national transmission network at an existing connection point.
Our story to date
Inch Cape as a concept first came about in 2008 after the site was selected for further investigation by The Crown Estate. An initial bidding round resulted in exclusivity rights being awarded in 2009. Following a Scottish Territorial Waters Strategic Environmental Assessment, Scottish Ministers decided to progress the Inch Cape site, along with four others, and in 2011 an agreement for lease was awarded.
The wind farm ownership, design and installed capacity has changed and evolved since that time and the project has been able to take advantage of new technologies and innovations as the wider offshore wind industry has also developed.
Since receiving its original consent in 2014, Inch Cape has reduced the number of turbines and increased the proposed installed capacity while retaining its original offshore site. In spring 2019, it received approval for a revised wind farm design, opening the door to the adoption of new turbine technology and a reduction in turbine numbers from 110 to up to 72. This significant achievement meant the project could minimise construction time and costs as well as potential environmental impacts.
In summer 2020, Inch Cape secured approval to increase its generation capacity to up to one gigawatt (GW) from around 700 MW. This means the project can utilise the latest technology to maximise wind farm efficiency within the parameters of its existing consent.
The consented project was awarded a Contract for Difference in the 2022 auction round and is now progressing towards full construction. In October 2023, its onshore enabling works were completed in readiness for the main civil engineering works which started in early 2024. The project is awaiting financial close before the start of full construction.
Benefits and opportunities
- Represents an around £3 billion investment in the UK’s electrical infrastructure
- Will contribute significantly to the UK Government’s target of 50 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind installed capacity by 2030
- Constitutes 10% of the Scottish Government’s ambition of 11 GW of offshore wind installed by 2030
- As at Q1 2024, has already invested almost £220 million with 262 UK companies (nearly £100 million in Scotland with 105 companies Scottish companies)
- Is set to spend a further (approx.) £700 million with UK supply chain (and create associated direct and indirect jobs)
- Efficient re-use of a brownfield site in East Lothian (of former coal-fired power station) including existing grid capacity and established transmission infrastructure
- On track to deliver at least 50% UK content over life cycle of the project
- Will mean large investment in a new facility in the Port of Montrose and more than 50 long-term skilled local jobs
Inch Cape represents a significant investment in the UK’s energy infrastructure with associated economic opportunities and community benefits. Potential suppliers can register their interest in working with the project and its key contractors via our supplier database.
Health, Safety and Environment Charter
Inch Cape’s Health, Safety and Environment Charter sets out the values that define project behaviour and rules which everyone within the Inch Cape project will follow. It also details our commitments to the environment and sustainability.
Golden rules
- Safety is our primary responsibility.
- We work towards a common goal of zero accidents and incidents and take ownership of safety.
- We work in a no blame culture.
- We encourage everyone to speak openly about concerns, problems, and mistakes.
- When others raise their concerns, we listen in order to rectify and learn from them.
- It is our duty to intervene and stop works if we feel unsafe.
- By stopping and reassessing we can assure safe completion of operations.
- We report all unsafe acts and conditions.
- Learning from unsafe acts and conditions we help to prevent re-occurrence and continually improve safety.
- We plan our work diligently and execute according to our plans.
- We assess risks, mitigate them, write and follow method statements and perform a toolbox talk before work starts.
- We do not allow any work under suspended loads.
- During planning and operations, we always consider where our work teams will be safely positioned during the lift.
Our environment and sustainability commitments are:
- Playing our part as a responsible business by achieving the highest possible standard of environmental management and by embedding sustainability in all our activities.
- Monitoring environmental and sustainability performance thoughout all project phases to ensure continual improvement.
- Effectively communicating with our supply chain and stakeholders, and to engage with the community to enable inclusive input in achieving the highest possible environmental standards.
- Considering the life cycle of materials from design to decommissioning.
- Promoting the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals in all our activities
Owners
Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm is owned by Inch Cape Offshore Wind Limited, an equal joint venture between ESB and Red Rock Power Limited.
