DEME Concessions-led consortium, Thistle Wind Partners (TWP), has been awarded 2 GW worth of option areas in Scotland’s ScotWind seabed leasing process. The consortium has secured the Cluaran Deas Ear and Cluaran Ear-Thuath options. 

The consortium consisting, DEME Concessions (Wind) (42,5 percent), Qair Marine (42,5 percent), and Aspiravi International (15 percent), proposed the Cluaran Deas Ear, a 1 GW fixed foundation project. The Cluaran Ear-Thuath is a proposed 1 GW floating foundation project which is envisaged to be developed in two phases.

To ensure a robust project delivery, TWP conducted an extensive assessment of the environmental and technical aspects of the ScotWind project sites. Focused technology optioneering, evaluation of grid capacity development, and a comprehensive risk mitigation plan were undertaken to secure fast tracked and de-risked developments at a pace that shall accelerate even more now that the projects have been selected.

Thistle Wind Partners will bring together its partners’ solid and complementary offshore wind development backgrounds characterised by fast-track delivery, stakeholder involvement, supply chain engagement, innovation in promising technologies, cost control and containment.

DEME to contribute to the acceleration of the energy transition in Scotland

For Thistle Wind Partners local content is a key focus. The consortium intends to work hand in hand with the Scottish government as well as with local communities and businesses to help develop related supply chain and expertise.

In the coming months, TWP will be actively engaging with government authorities, fellow developers, communities, and businesses, to fully understand local capabilities and define ways to work together, with a particular focus on breaking down barriers to new entrants to the job market, creating new skilled and energy transition jobs, and ensuring through investment that Scottish ports are ready and in the best position to seize an offshore wind pipeline of opportunities.

“We are delighted to have secured two projects in such a competitive leasing round. Following extensive efforts over the last two years to submit successful ScotWind leasing bids, we will continue with this focused effort to deliver our projects as promptly and cost effectively as possible whilst actively engaging with the local stakeholders and the supply chain. DEME considers these projects as a platform to increase our strong position in Scotland and the wider UK building further on the recent successful implementation of the 950 MW Moray East Project by DEME Offshore”, said Kristof Van Loon, general manager of DEME Concessions.