Thistle Wind Partners (TWP) was founded by three global renewables pioneers – DEME, Qair, and Aspiravi – in 2020 as a business dedicated to Scottish offshore wind development. Following our two successful ScotWind bids, we are now developing the Ayre and Bowdun offshore wind farms from our headquarters in Edinburgh.
Our founder companies have global renewables portfolios that stretch back to the world’s very first offshore wind farms. With a combined experience of 60 years in renewables development, construction, and operations, they have pioneered technologies and engineering solutions across the globe.
TWP’s rapidly growing team is based in Edinburgh with new roles planned for Orkney and Aberdeenshire too as our wind farms progress through the environmental assessments, consenting and planning phases, to construction and O&M.
In entering the Scottish market in 2022, we have pledged to:
Image: Visualisation of Qair's Eolmed Floating Offshore Wind Farm, now under construction in the Mediterranean.
TWP is one of four ScotWind developers providing funding and support to a STEM Outreach Programme for early years, which is being implemented by the University of Highlands and Islands.
Our offshore wind farms will take almost a decade to scope, consent and build. We have set targets and ambitions for engaging Scotland's supply chain throughout the development and construction stages, helping to accelerate the transition of jobs from oil and gas to renewables. We are also looking ahead to the working lives of our wind farms, from their commissioning in 2032 to their eventual decommissioning, repowering, or lifetime extension (in 2060 or beyond, depending upon technological advancements).
Who will develop, manufacture and operate the technologies we will need to manage these major maritime assets? Who will service and maintain the assets? And who will help to ensure we operate in harmony with a thriving maritime environment? Many of those who will be vital to the success of our wind farms are now in Scotland's nursery and primary schools. Ensuring that a wide diversity of young people in Scotland have the confidence to study and qualify in STEM disciplines, as well as being equipped to succeed, is vital for the future of our wind farms as well as Scotland's energy transition.
In September 2023, TWP gifted a training vessel to UHI Orkney's Nav School, ensuring that it will continue to train worldclass mariners from Orkney and the wider Highlands region for many years to come.
Image: TWP's training vessel, pictured with TWP Project Director Ian Taylor, Alison Wilson, UHI's Director of Development and Alumni Engagement, and Mark Shiner, Head of Maritime Studies andEngineering, UHI Orkney
Find out more about TWP founder companies.
QAIR
Qair is an independent producer of exclusively renewable energy, developing, building and operating wind, solar, hydroelectric and green hydrogen projects on its own account. Qair operates 860MW and targets 1GW of capacity in 2022.
Find out more
DEME
DEME Concessions brings together all investments and expertise of the DEME Group in the fields of offshore wind and other renewables, green hydrogen, port development, Public Private Partnership (PPP) Infrastructure, environment, and marine resources.
ASPIRAVI
Aspiravi International, part of the Aspiravi Group develops, implements, and operates renewable energy projects with a total installed capacity of over 1.5 GW. As well as wind energy projects, Aspiravi Group also owns and operates biomass installations, biogas engines, and hydro-electric installations.
We are working with port authorities, trade bodies, and academic institutions across Scotland to scope out the future supply chain, technology innovations, R&D, and facilities needed for our wind farms.
Scottish Renewables
University of Highlands and Islands
RenewableUK
DeepWind Cluster
Forth and Tay Cluster
G+ Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organisation
Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council
Scottish Enterprise
Caithness Chamber of Commerce
If you have any queries about our wind farm projects, TWP’s community engagement, careers with TWP, or anything else, please fill out our general enquiries form.