An update on offshore wind leasing for Scotland was published by Crown Estate Scotland on 29 November.
Based on feedback from developers, NGOs, local authorities and others, Crown Estate Scotland decided that applicants will be able to select their own site boundary and size, with a cap intended on the maximum area for an individual application for ScotWind Leasing “most likely in the thousands of km2”, but no cap planned on the number of applications an individual can make.
Additionally, it is intended that there will be no cap on the total seabed awarded in a cycle of leasing, however, Crown Estate Scotland said it would indicate the “broad level of new capacity” it would see as being the “sensible outcome” of each leasing cycle – for the first cycle, “multiple GW” of capacity is expected.
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