ScottishPower Renewables’ first fixed-bottom offshore windfarm in Scottish waters has taken an important step forward with the submission of its Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report for the project’s windfarm development area to the Scottish Government.
The milestone – requesting a formal ‘Scoping Opinion’ from the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate, the offshore planning authority – is a key element in the preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed MachairWind offshore windfarm.
The process will establish the environmental factors to be assessed and the approach to be taken throughout the EIA process, which will form a critical part of the MachairWind planning application, expected to be submitted in early 2026.
MachairWind could generate up to 2GW of clean, green electricity – enough to power the equivalent of up to two million homes – and deliver significant investment, jobs and opportunities across the west coast of Scotland and beyond.
The scoping report covers the windfarm development area only – the area of seabed north-west of Islay and west of Colonsay that will host up to 147 wind turbines and foundations as well as the cables connecting the turbines.
The area has been significantly reduced in size by ScottishPower Renewables – from 754km2 to 510 km2– as part of its early design considerations and could be refined further as project plans develop.
The report sets out existing environmental information based on publicly available data, site-specific surveys and studies, and stakeholder feedback from the likes of Argyll & Bute Council, NatureScot, Historic Environment Scotland, RSPB Scotland, and organisations representing commercial fisheries.
It then sets out technical topics that would be assessed as part of the EIA – including seascape, landscape and visual impact; offshore ornithology; marine mammals; commercial fisheries, socio-economics; and shipping and navigation.
The Marine Directorate is expected to provide its formal Scoping Opinion in the new year, following detailed consultation and engagement with key stakeholders.
Kiera Wilson, ScottishPower Renewables’ MachairWind Development Lead, said: “The submission of our scoping report is an important milestone and a key step in the consenting journey for MachairWind. We’re committed to ensuring our project is shaped by local people, communities and stakeholders and minimises any potential impacts while maximising benefits and opportunities across the Argyll and Bute region and the west of Scotland.
“We look forward to receiving feedback in due course and shaping our EIA and development proposals to ensure MachairWind does just that.”
The MachairWind Windfarm Development Area Scoping Report and appendices are available on the Marine Scotland website: https://marine.gov.scot/node/25685.
Contact Information
Denise Robertson
Senior Corporate Affairs Manager
ScottishPower
07585 961708
drobertson@scottishpower.com
Notes to editors
Separate scoping reports and EIAs will be undertaken as part of the consent process for both the onshore and offshore transmission development areas for MachairWind – which have yet to be defined.
About ScottishPower Renewables
ScottishPower is part of Iberdrola, a global energy leader and the number-one producer of wind power with more than 39GW of renewable projects operating across the world and a pipeline of 100GW of renewable projects.
Responsible for progressing Iberdrola’s renewable energy projects in the UK, ScottishPower Renewables manages the development, construction and operation of offshore windfarms throughout the world and currently has over 40 operational windfarm sites generating over 3GW of renewable energy – that’s enough green electricity to power around two million homes.
Iberdrola and ScottishPower are investing £24bn in the UK for the years 2024 to 2028, including putting into service the East Anglia 3 offshore wind farm, currently under construction, as well as East Anglia 2, a £4bn shovel-ready offshore windfarm recently awarded a contract in the AR6 auction and will provide enough green energy to power the equivalent of 1 million homes. The company also continues investing in new onshore wind, solar PV and battery projects.
