Buchan Offshore Wind: Looking back on 2023

This year has been an exciting and busy one for the Buchan Offshore Wind team, exhibiting their 1 GW project at several events, supporting community and educational programmes, as well as celebrating important milestones within the project development phase:

2023 started strong for Buchan Offshore Wind with the Scottish Renewable Offshore Wind Conference in Glasgow, where the First Minister announced a new initiative from the University of the Highlands & Islands that will provide essential STEM training for teachers, supported by Buchan Offshore Wind in conjunction with other ScotWind developers.

Buchan Offshore Wind’s Project Director Alasdair MacLeod, Onshore Consents Manager Debbie Olson, and Supply Chain Manager Adam Hollis with UHI’s Director of Advancement Alison Wilson (second from left)

Buchan Offshore Wind was also represented at Renewable UK’s Floating Offshore Wind Exhibition in Aberdeen with Head of Consents Ian Simms speaking at the event, introducing the 1 GW ScotWind project.

*Head of Consents, Ian Simms speaking at Floating Offshore Wind*

Buchan Offshore Wind also pursued its development activities by awarding new contracts to Ocean Infinity, who carried out site investigations, Cooper Consultancy, who are supporting onshore and offshore stakeholder engagement and consultation, Natural Power, who will lead the onshore project development and Environmental Impact Assessment, as well as Blackhall & Powis, who will provide property support.

Ocean Infinity also completed the offshore site investigation campaign at the wind farm array and along the export cable corridor this year.

*Ocean Infinity used the Normand Surperior vessel to conclude the side investigation survey*

Later in the year, the development team submitted its offshore scoping report to the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate, representing the project’s first major step within the consenting process.

One of the main focus points in 2023 for Buchan Offshore Wind was to engage with the local community in the north east of Scotland. A big topic hereby was education: The team attended Fraserburgh Academy’s Renewable Energy Convention to talk about the project, the floating wind sector, as well as employment opportunities within the industry.

During spring, the team embarked on a series of visits to Scottish suppliers. One of the main commitments of Buchan Offshore Wind is to work with the Scottish manufacturing sector to secure investment, remove bottlenecks, and enhance the amount of Scottish content within the project.

Buchan Offshore Wind’s Supply Chain Manager Adam Hollis and Health & Safety Manager Maxime Vougny-Metral (second and third from left), with Engineering Intern Finlay Scott (l.) and Marketing Manager Maéva Julliard

In summer, Buchan Offshore Wind was delighted to support the Peterhead Scottish Week, sponsoring the Best of Buchan Awards, which highlighted the often unsung heroes within the local community.

*Alasdair MacLeod handing over the Green/Sustainability Champion of the Year Award*

The team also travelled to the Aberdeenshire coast to collect an impressive amount of litter from a local beach, doing their bit to save the environment from harmful microplastics and being rewarded with glorious sunshine!

Zygimantas Rimkus, Grid Manager, Rhiannon Mayall, Environmental Impact Assessment Manager, Hamish MacDonald, Offshore Project Engineer, Debbie Olson, Onshore Consents Manager, Ed Sennett, Senior Project Accountant, and Maxime Vougny-Metral, Health & Safety Manager

The Buchan Offshore Wind team recently held three public consultations in the north-east of Scotland, inviting local communities and stakeholders to view the project plans and meet the development team.

The team ended the year with a festive visit to the Peterhead Prison Museum, where they sponsored this year’s Christmas lights, helping to provide increased opportunities for communities to access memorable experiences before the holidays.

All in all 2023 has been a very successful year for Buchan Offshore Wind and we are excited to see what 2024 will bring!