Ian Taylor, Bowdun Offshore Wind Farm's Project Director, shares an update on progress and latest developments.
I write to provide an update on Thistle Wind Partners (TWP) development of the Bowdun Offshore Windfarm, since our last stakeholder update there has been significant progress made on making Bowdun a reality and actualising the significant benefits it will generate for the economy of North East Scotland. Bowdun is a ScotWind project off the Aberdeenshire coast, 44km from Stonehaven, with potential to power the equivalent of 1.2 million homes and ambition to invest more than £1bn in the Scottish supply chain.
Our offshore consent application to the Marine Directorate Licencing and Operations Team (MD-LOT) was validated on 07 May 2026 and the consultation period for the application runs until the 19 June 2026. The planning application for our onshore infrastructure and associated works, submitted in November 2026, is with Aberdeenshire Council for determination and the project team are working with the Council to support the determination process over the coming months.
Bowdun recently announced plans to establish a new Operations and Maintenance (O&M) base at a port in north-east Scotland, representing around £360 million of investment and supporting more than 100 long-term jobs. As part of the ongoing site selection process, the Bowdun team has undertaken a series of visits to the ports of Aberdeen, Fraserburgh, Montrose and Peterhead.
The O&M base will oversee the day-to-day running of the wind farm, with the final port location expected to be confirmed following consent, which we anticipate in 2027. Although construction ports have not yet been selected, a further 700 full-time equivalent jobs are expected to be supported throughout the onshore and offshore construction phase.
More broadly, we are proud of our targeted Supply Chain Pathways Programme that will prequalify oil and gas suppliers - not just for the Bowdun Offshore Wind Farm project, but other developments across the UK and internationally through pre-selected Tier 1 supplier, DEME Offshore. The programme has, to date, involved 60 Scottish companies, many of whom are located across the North East and we are in active discussions with several of these to explore how they can support us in our ambition to secure a transition that generates long-term economic benefit for this region. We have recently held events with suppliers in Aberdeen and local policymakers to highlight this important work.
A key focus of TWP’s activity is an unwavering commitment to engage and consult meaningfully with local communities in relation to the onshore infrastructure of the Bowdun project. With the consent applications for offshore and onshore now submitted, formal consultation activities are currently centred on the statutory processes associated with those applications. The Bowdun Project team is looking forward to summer events including the Stonehaven Feein’ Market and the science festival hosted in Stonehaven by the Aberdeen Science Centre.
We also recently launched our 2026 Community Fund. Now in its third year, we have been delighted to support some terrific community groups in the area who are making a real impact including, NorthSound Radio Mission Christmas, Stonehaven & District Lions Club, HomestartKincardine and Oakley ASN. This year’s fund offers donations to local groups based in Kincardine & Mearns, with a particular focus on the areas within which our onshore infrastructure will be located or those that neighbour our project. We are looking to support projects with an environmental, coastal and recreation focus that may include:
Full information is available on our website.
We have continued our commitment to STEM engagement through a range of educational and community initiatives across the north-east. In partnership with Developing the Young Workforce North East (DYWN) we have supported mock interview sessions for secondary school pupils helping young people build confidence and develop communication and interview skills as they prepare to enter the world of work. Our collaboration with STEMOVATORS has also continued, including participation in two Celebration of STEM events where we used an interactive wind turbine model to demonstrate the principles of lift, drag and air resistance in an engaging and accessible way.
Our ongoing relationship with Aberdeen Science Centre has enabled hundreds of primary school pupils to take part in the “Gust to Grid” workshop, an interactive experience where participants build their own wind turbines and generate electricity. This year, we are also supporting the Science Festival in Stonehaven to help further encourage interest in STEM subjects within local communities.
In addition, through our partnership with TechFest, we have continued to support the “STEM on the Wind Farm” project. This initiative gives pupils an insight into the full lifecycle of an offshore wind farm, from planning and consenting through to construction and operations, helping build awareness of the skills, careers and opportunities associated with the renewable energy sector.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me or my team should you require any further information about the Bowdun Offshore Wind Farm project and our ongoing efforts to contribute to the future success of the North East of Scotland.