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20240924_TWP_001 (1)

THE PROJECT

Bowdun Offshore Wind Farm is a proposed fixed-bottom offshore wind project being developed by Thistle Wind Partners as part of Scotland’s ScotWind programme.
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AT A GLANCE

Bowdun in numbers

A snapshot of the scale, ambition and impact of the Bowdun Offshore Wind Farm project.

1Over 1GW of renewable energyBowdun could generate more than 1 gigawatt of clean electricity, contributing to Scotland’s growing offshore wind capacity.
4187km² development areaBowdun will be developed within a 187 square kilometre area of the E3 zone identified through the ScotWind.
2Power for more than one million homesAt full capacity, the project could generate enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of over one million homes.
5£1bn supply chain investmentBowdun has an ambition to invest more than £1billion in the Scottish supply chain through its Supply Chain Pathways Programme.
3Located 44km offshoreThe proposed wind farm site is around 44km from Stonehaven on the Aberdeenshire coast in the North Sea.
6£360m O&M investmentA planned £360m spend on operations and maintenance, while supporting jobs and long-term economic opportunities in the North East.
PROJECT INFORMATION

Location

The proposed wind farm site is in the North Sea, around 27 miles (44km) off the coast of Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire. Bowdun sits within the ScotWind E3 area and is currently planned for up to 67 turbines, subject to detailed design and the consenting process.

To bring power ashore, Bowdun also requires onshore infrastructure. The proposed landfall is near Benholm, south of Stonehaven, with an underground cable corridor running north to the project’s grid connection point in Fetteresso Forest. Because the cable would be underground, there would be no overhead line along the route, and land would be restored once construction is complete.

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HOW WE WILL GET THERE

Project Timeline

Over the past three years, the project team has been carrying out surveys, site investigations and technical assessments to inform the design of both the offshore wind farm and the onshore infrastructure. Consultation has also been under way with communities and stakeholders as part of the pre-application process.

 

The project is currently moving through the stages needed to support consent applications and decisions, from development and surveys through consultation and application, and then, subject to consent, into construction and delivery in the 2030s.

 An indicative timeline is set out below. 

TWP TIMELINE

Project Milestones

Bowdun is continuing to make strong progress through the development process, with a series of important technical, planning and commercial milestones scheduled over the coming years.

During 2026, the project will complete its first geotechnical campaign, including borehole sampling, Cone Penetration Testing (CPT), and Nearshore and Landfall (NSLF) surveys. These investigations will provide critical information about the seabed and ground conditions helping to inform the project's engineering design. We also hope to secure planning consent from Aberdeenshire Council for the project's onshore transmission infrastructure and complete the concept phase of development, establishing the project's baseline technical solution including foundation selection, system design and a provisional wind farm layout.

As offshore wind continues to expand, Bowdun aims to help Scottish companies build the capability, experience and connections needed to participate in future renewable energy projects both in the UK and internationally.

In 2027, Bowdun will move into the next stage of development by commencing direct engagement with the supply chain and progressing Front End Engineering and Design (FEED). Subject to the statutory consenting process, the project also expects to receive offshore planning consent from the Marine Directorate's Licensing Operations Team (MD-LOT), including Section 36 consent and the associated marine licences. A second geophysical survey campaign will also be undertaken to further refine the project's design.

Between 2028 and 2031, the project will transition towards the execution phase. This phase will include a final, layout-specific geotechnical campaign, completion of detailed engineering design across all work packages, and the exercise of the project's Option Agreements with Crown Estate Scotland. With the primary contracts in place, Bowdun will be positioned to move into the execution phase, marking a significant step towards the delivery of one of Scotland's next generation of ScotWind offshore wind farms.

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CONTACT US

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