en.Wedoany.com Reported - Bellrock Offshore Wind Farm Limited (wholly owned by Nadara) has recently submitted a Section 36 consent and marine license application to the Scottish Government for the Bellrock floating offshore wind project. Located in the central North Sea, 120 kilometers east of Stonehaven, Scotland, the project has a planned installed capacity of up to 1.8 gigawatts (GW). If approved, it would become one of the largest proposed floating offshore wind farms in UK waters.

The application is based on three years of development work, including environmental baseline surveys, engineering design, and extensive engagement with statutory consultees, local communities, industry stakeholders, and the offshore wind supply chain. The Bellrock project is part of the Crown Estate Scotland's ScotWind leasing round, aimed at supporting Scotland's and the UK's accelerated clean energy deployment targets. The wind farm development area plans to install up to 132 floating wind turbines, along with floating foundation structures, mooring lines, anchors, inter-array cables, subsea cable hubs, and related infrastructure.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report submitted with the consent application examined a wide range of topics, including offshore ornithology, marine mammals, commercial fisheries, shipping and navigation, marine archaeology and cultural heritage, climate change risks, and socio-economic, tourism, and recreational impacts. The assessment concluded that, through careful siting, design optimization, and embedded mitigation measures, the project's environmental impact is at a very low level given its scale.

In terms of socio-economic benefits, the Bellrock project has committed to spending over £1.5 billion in the Scottish supply chain during development and construction. The construction phase is expected to support a peak workforce of over 2,500 jobs in Scotland and over 3,800 jobs across the UK, covering manufacturing, engineering, maritime services, and construction. The project also plans to provide ongoing high-skilled jobs and economic benefits throughout its entire operational lifespan.

David Robertson, Nadara's Scottish Portfolio Director, stated that submitting the consent application is a significant milestone for the project and the Scottish floating offshore wind industry. He noted that the project can translate offshore wind ambitions into tangible economic value, supporting jobs and driving supply chain investment, while also helping to strengthen Scotland's industrial base and advance the clean energy transition.

These applications will be considered by Scottish Government ministers. Subject to consent, the Bellrock project will proceed to detailed design and further engagement with the supply chain, with construction planned to begin in 2031.

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