Mainstream teams up with Ocean Winds for gigascale Scottish floating
The partners had already been working together on a 1.8GW floating project that is part of the same development
Mainstream Renewable Power has teamed up with Ocean Winds to develop a second ScotWind site of 500MW east of the Shetland Islands.
The partners announced today that they will expand their 50-50 Arven Offshore Wind Farm joint venture from its current 1.8GW to 2.3GW.
The 1.8GW Arven site was awarded in 2022. Separately, Ocean Winds – an international joint venture between Spain’s EDP Renewables and French multinational Engie – won a 500 MW site in the same NE1 block.
Mainstream has since bought a 50% stake in Ocean Wind’s holding company, so the partners say they will now develop the two sites jointly to “maximise their potential.”
Mainstream and Ocean Winds are also currently developing a 1.2 GW floating offshore wind farm in South Korea, and are in a consortium for the upcoming Utsira Nord floating offshore wind tender in Norway.
Adam Morrison, UK country manager for Ocean Winds, said the collaboration marks a “significant milestone, combining our expertise and resources to develop our largest floating offshore wind farm to date.”
“We have already commenced surveys and a programme of early local engagement, including the fishing industry, and we are committed to working closely with the local community in developing this larger Arven project, which will be a significant driver for the energy transition.”
Tove Røskaft, head of offshore wind for Mainstream, said Arven offers a “unique combination of scale, world-class wind resource and routes to market which enable it to deliver a range of compelling benefits for the good of Shetland, Scotland and the UK.”
Mainstream has previously helped develop the 450MW Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm off the Scottish coast, before selling it to EDF Renewables in 2018. It also partnered on developing the Hornsea zone, which it says is the world’s largest offshore wind farm in operation at 5GW.