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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 (now managed by Crown Estate Scotland). 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. 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. There is visible progress now at the onshore substation site in Cockenzie, East Lothian as the key structures take shape, as well as at Wallsend, near Newcastle where the offshore substation and its jacket foundation are well advanced. 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 Q2/3 2024, has already invested almost £300 million with 275 UK companies (more than £100 million in Scotland with 107 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
- Once operational the wind farm will reduce carbon emissions by 2.5 million tonnes per year compared to using fossil-fuels.*
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 core health, safety and environmental values that everyone working on the Inch Cape project should follow.
Health and safety
- Inch Cape’s number one responsibility is safety and our common goal is zero accidents or incidents.
- When you see something unsafe, it is your responsibility to make it known or to intervene as appropriate.
- Accidents, incidents, and high potential near misses will be investigated and findings shared to prevent re-occurrence.
- All work will be planned, hazards and risks identified and mitigation defined. Safe systems of work will be prepared and implemented.
- Everyone is responsible for their own safety and the safety of those affected by their actions.
Environment and sustainability
- Inch Cape will achieve the highest standards of environmental management and will embed sustainability in all activities.
- Inch Cape will consistently monitor its environmental and sustainability performance and seek continuous improvement.
- The life cycle of materials will be considered through each phase of the project.
Owners
Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm is owned by Inch Cape Offshore Wind Limited, an equal joint venture between ESB and Red Rock Renewables.
* Using DESNZ’s “all non-renewable fuels” emissions statistic of 437 tonnes of carbon dioxide per GWh of electricity supplied in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (July 2024) Table 5.14 (“Estimated carbon dioxide emissions from electricity supplied”). Carbon reduction is calculated by multiplying the total amount of electricity generated per year by the number of tonnes of carbon which fossil fuels would have produced to generate the same amount of electricity.
