Vestas has been awarded a firm and unconditional order for the 1.1GW Inch Cape offshore wind farm in Scotland from a 50-50 joint venture (JV) between ESB and Red Rock Renewables.
Under the terms of the contract, the wind turbine manufacturer will supply, install, and commission 72 V236-15.0 MW turbines. Each of the turbines will have 115m-long blades and a rotor diameter of 236m.
Following the completion of the Scottish offshore wind farm, Vestas will also deliver a 10-year service agreement, followed by an operational support agreement.
Located approximately 15km off the Angus coast in the Scottish North Sea, the Inch Cape offshore wind project represents an investment of around £3bn in the UK’s electrical infrastructure.
The Scottish offshore wind farm spans an area of 150km2 and will utilise the Port of Dundee as the turbine installation harbour.
Power from the turbines will be transported over a distance of 85km to a new substation at the site of the former Cockenzie power plant in East Lothian before entering the national grid.
Once operational, the Inch Cape offshore wind project will contribute 10% towards the Scottish government’s 11GW offshore wind target for 2030. It will also reduce carbon emissions by 2.5 million tonnes annually compared to fossil fuel energy sources.
Additionally, the facility is expected to contribute towards the UK government’s goal of achieving 50GW of offshore wind capacity by the end of the decade.
Vestas Northern and Central Europe president Nils de Baar said: “Inch Cape will have a significant impact on UK’s sustainable energy future, and we are grateful to stand at the forefront of this transition.
“Together with our partners, we are making significant strides towards the UK government’s commitment to quadruple offshore wind by 2030, as a cornerstone of its goal to fully decarbonise electricity by 2030.”
The installation of the turbines is set to begin in 2026, with the wind farm expected to become fully operational by 2027.
This firm order formalises a conditional agreement made in September 2024.
The Inch Cape project was initiated in 2008 after the site was identified by The Crown Estate for further investigation. In 2022, it was awarded a contract for difference (CfD) during the auction round.
Onshore enabling works were completed in October 2023.
Inch Cape project director John Hill said: “Securing the full notice to proceed on the agreement is a great milestone for the project.
“The 72 V236-15.0 MW turbines are the latest state-of-the-art turbines from Vestas and will generate more than 5TWh of renewable electricity each year, making an important contribution to the UK’s energy security and representing a valuable reduction in carbon emissions.”
