Thistle Wind Partners (TWP) will develop two offshore wind farms in Scotland. We bring the global experience of our founder companies in offshore infrastructure and floating technologies, proven approaches to maximising local economic benefit, and enough clean energy to power around 2.4 million homes.
The selection of sites for our offshore wind farms was informed by a detailed series of environmental, engineering, and feasibility studies in 2020. These assessments will continue up to 2025, widening to include metocean, geophysical and geotechnical studies to inform our foundation and wind turbine selection. Ornithological, benthic and commercial fishing studies will, likewise, feed into our Environmental Impact Assessment.
When an offshore wind developer signs a lease agreement with Crown Estate Scotland, they are guaranteed to receive a grid connection from National Grid. We are currently taking part in a process called Holistic Network Design Follow-Up, where the National Grid and developers are working together to create a national transmission system. Once we know where our grid connections will be for the Ayre and Bowdun offshore wind farms in August 2023, we will need to plan routes for delivering the electricity to onshore substations. For Ayre, this is likely to be on the Scottish mainland, and for Bowdun - the Aberdeenshire coast, between Stonehaven and Montrose. Any plans we make will be submitted to an open public consultation and planning approval.
Our Wind Farms
In developing our Scottish wind farms, we prioritise working with the local supply chain to optimise sustainability and support local growth and development. Scotland offers a unique opportunity for emerging floating wind technology. Its prime location and the country's expertise make it a valuable place for TWP to be based. We believe this area can challenge the existing European supply chain and help move wind technology to the forefront of global renewables.
1. Ayre Offshore Wind Farm
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2. Bowdun Offshore Wind Farm
Our wind farms
The wind farm will be located 33km from the nearest inhabited point on Orkney – Deerness, and 36km from Kirkwall. The project site will cover an area of 200km2 and will be divided into two distinct zones. This layout minimises cable crossings, maritime disruption and environmental impact by having a maximum of five turbines per string. The current plan is to develop the site in two phases: Phase 1 (97km2 section) will produce energy from 2031, while Phase 2 (103km2 section) will be commissioned in 2033.
Foundation types
For this project located east of Orkney we've opted to use a Floating Tension Leg platform, using drilled piles. This type of platform is best used to provide stability when working with a water depth greater than 70m. The estimated foundation weight for a project such as this is around 3,000 tonnes.
You can see the timelines for the development of our projects below.
Phase 1 (97km2 / 200km2)
Phase 1 (97km2/ 200km2)
Phase 1 (97km2 / 200km2)Phase 2 (103km2 / 200km2)
Phase 2 (103km2 / 200km2)
The wind farm, which covers an area of 187km2, will be located approximately 44km from the coast of Aberdeen, lying on the same latitude as the town of Stonehaven (and the historic clifftop castle of Dunnottar).
For this project off the east coast of Aberdeen we’ve opted to use a Jacket Foundation type using pin-piles to provide stability. This method uses a Drive-Drill-Drive installation method to install the pin piles into the harder substrate layers.