Vestas receives 1.1 GW Inch Cape offshore wind project in Scotland

• Vestas has won the 1.1 GW Inch Cape Offshore Wind Project.
• Boasting 72 cutting-edge V236-15.0 MW turbines,
• It supports the UK’s target of 50 GW of offshore wind by 2030.
• With an investment of £3 billion, the project will create thousands of jobs, and reduce annual carbon emissions by 2.5 million tonnes. 
• The project is due to be operational by 2027.

 Scotland Offshore Wind Farm, Photo: iStock:

Vestas has finalized a firm and unconditional agreement to supply Scotland's 1.1 GW Inch Cape offshore wind project. Inch Cape Offshore Limited, a joint venture between ESB and Red Rock Renewables, is developing the project.

Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm

The contract features 72 V236-15.0 MW wind turbines, covering the supply, installation, and commissioning. Vestas will provide a 10-year service contract and operational support. The Inch Cape offshore site is located in the Scottish North Sea, nearly 15 kilometers off the Angus coastline. Turbine installation will be carried out from the Port of Dundee.

The Inch Cape Wind Farm marked a significant milestone in reducing construction time and costs through the use of advanced turbine technology, achieving approval in 2019, which enabled the innovation to reduce the number of turbines from 110 to 72. Subsequently, the offshore farm received approval to increase its generating capacity from around 700 megawatts to one gigawatt (GW) to optimize efficiency using cutting-edge technology. Construction on the project is due to commence in 2026, with the wind farm expected to be fully operational by 2027.

The wind farm is being described as a game-changer project, as it represents a £3 billion investment in the UK’s electricity infrastructure. The project includes a major investment in a new facility at the Port of Montrose, which is expected to create more than 50 long-term skilled local jobs.

By the first quarter of 2025, the project has already committed nearly £300 million to 300 UK companies, including £100 million to 120 Scottish firms. An additional £700 million will be invested in the UK supply chain, creating significant direct and indirect jobs.

It contributes significantly to the UK government’s target of 50 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 and meets 10% of the Scottish government’s target of 11 GW by the same time frame. When complete, the wind farm will significantly reduce carbon emissions, reducing annual emissions by 2.5 million tonnes compared to fossil fuel-based power generation.

Strategically located on a redeveloped brownfield site in East Lothian, formerly a coal-fired power station, the development capitalizes on existing grid capacity and transmission infrastructure. It aims to achieve at least 50% UK content over its life cycle.

Adam Izamel, Project Director at Inch Cape, commented: “This milestone is a significant achievement for the project and a testament to the exceptional efforts of our team who have re-engineered the wind farm over the past two years. Their work has delivered a project with much higher output and lower energy costs, enabling us to submit a successful bid at the auction. Our next steps are to finalize the contracts for the key work packages and move toward a final investment decision by the middle of next year.

Adam Izamel, Project Director at Inch Cape

John Hill, Inch Cape Project Director, commented “Achieving full notice to proceed is a significant milestone for the project. The state-of-the-art V236-15.0 MW turbines will generate over 5 TWh of renewable electricity annually, strengthening the UK’s energy security and significantly reducing carbon emissions.”

Guy Madgwick, CEO of Red Rock Power

Guy Madgwick, CEO of Red Rock Power, cited: “Over the past two years, we have worked tirelessly to optimize the wind farm and reduce energy costs, achieving results that have exceeded our initial expectations. This progress will provide even greater benefits as the country strengthens its energy security and expands access to affordable, green electricity.

“Today’s achievement reflects the expertise and dedication of the project team, whose contributions have been invaluable even during the challenges of the pandemic. The real work now begins, and we look forward to progressing to the next phase of the project in partnership with our colleagues at ESB.”

President of Vestas Northern & Central Europe, Group Senior Vice President at Vestas

Nils de Baar, President of Europe, Vestas Northern & Central, cited, “We are proud to partner with our trusted customers on this transformative project. Inch Cape will be key in advancing the UK’s sustainable energy goals. We are honored to contribute to the government’s ambition to quadruple offshore wind capacity by 2030, a significant step towards fully decarbonizing electricity by the same year.”