Joint venture sealed as vast Scottish offshore wind farm with 72 turbines pushes ahead

Edinburgh-based Red Rock Power has formed a joint venture with Irish energy group ESB as a vast Scottish offshore wind farm pushes ahead.

Offshore wind farms are becoming an increasingly important source of power across the UK. Picture: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire

The 50:50 partnership will harness the “wealth of expertise” that both companies have within the wind energy sector and support their “mutual growth ambitions”.

As well as powering up to one million homes, the Inch Cape offshore wind farm development is poised to play a key role in a green economic recovery through the creation of skilled jobs and opportunities for the local supply chain.

Inch Cape is set to be built some 15 kilometres off the Angus coast. The project recently received approval to increase its capacity to up to one gigawatt having already secured both onshore and offshore consents in 2019. The wind farm will connect into the national grid at Cockenzie in East Lothian.

Guy Madgwick, Red Rock Power chief executive, said: “Inch Cape will, without a doubt, make a considerable impact on the country’s clean energy targets and create significant opportunities to support a green economic recovery.

“We look forward to working alongside our colleagues at ESB on the project and to applying synergies within our teams to drive the development forward to a successful build.”

Jim Dollard, executive director generation and trading at ESB, said: “We look forward to pooling our expertise and experience with a partner of the calibre of Red Rock Power to deliver the Inch Cape project.

“With consent for up to one gigawatt and 72 turbines, this is a milestone investment in offshore wind for ESB and our ambition to lead the transition to a low-carbon future.

“This builds on similar partnerships ESB has with leading renewable energy companies in developing offshore wind projects off the coast of Ireland and Great Britain.”

Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse added: “Offshore wind will play a vital part in achieving our net zero ambitions while helping to drive a strong, green economic recovery.

“Inch Cape has the potential to significantly contribute to this recovery, to help deliver Scotland’s net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 and to support the Scottish supply chain. Therefore I welcome the partnership between Red Rock and ESB as the project moves forward to the next phase.”

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