Neart na Gaoithe (NnG)
Offshore Wind FarmThe Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm will be located 15.5 km off the Fife coast and covers an area of approximately 105 km². EDF Renewables UK acquired the project in May 2018 as part of a competitive bidding process. ESB purchased a 50% stake in the project in November 2019.
Project Timeline
Site Selection.
The exclusive rights to develop the NnG offshore wind farm in Scottish Territorial Waters were awarded.
The agreement to connect NnG to the National Grid was signed.
Agreement for Lease with Crown Estate Scotland.
The original consent application was submitted to Marine Scotland Licensing Operations Team (MS-LOT). This application was a major milestone towards delivering the project.
NnG reached a significant milestone when East Lothian Council (ELC) granted planning permission for the onshore works required to connect the 450MW wind farm to the national grid.
Original offshore consent received from Scottish Ministers.
NnG successfully won a Contract for Difference (CfD) from the UK Government through a highly competitive auction.
The RSPB’s concerns were initially upheld in a decision of the Outer House of the Scottish Court of Session.
The initial decision was appealed by Scottish Ministers and the Inner House ultimately overturned the original decision, resulting in the reinstatement of the consents clearing the way for NnG to proceed to the construction phase.
Scottish Ministers granted consent for NnG to be constructed using higher capacity turbines, generating the same 450MW output but using 54 instead of 75 turbines. EDF Renewables UK acquired NnG.
A dedicated office is opened in Edinburgh for the growing NnG project team who will build the wind farm. NnG achieves financial close meaning construction can start on the project.
Offshore construction gets underway at the site of NnG, 15,5km off the Fife coast.
