SSE Renewables’ Seagreen 2 and 3 offshore wind farms, two of the largest offshore wind farms in development in Scotland, are to be renamed to Berwick Bank wind farm and Marr Bank wind farm, respectively.
The two projects are located in the North Sea beyond the Firth of Forth. Berwick Bank sits 54km off the Angus coast at its closest point and Marr Bank sits over 43km off the coast.
The move to rename the projects is to distinguish the two standalone offshore wind farms from neighbouring project, Seagreen 1. All three Seagreen sites were awarded exclusive development rights by the Crown Estate in 2010 but are now progressing on separate tracks, with Seagreen 1 having reached a final investment decision in June 2020.
The new names are a nod to the geological history of each site, including the remains of the last glacial maximum, over 20,000 years ago. During this time, widespread movement of glaciers in the entire North Sea and, in particular, the area off the Firth of Forth, resulted in a thick layer of sediment being deposited. This sediment is historical evidence of the environmental change in this area.
The proposed installed capacity of Berwick Bank is between 1,400MW and 2,300MW and Marr Bank is between 900MW and 1,850MW. Combined, the two projects could significantly contribute to Scotland’s ambitious climate change targets.
Malcolm Grant, Lead Project Manager said: “Offshore wind is critical if both Scotland and the UK are to achieve net zero. The two wind farms will contribute significantly to carbon reduction targets and will help to drive forward a green recovery. We’re pleased to have renamed them to help distinguish them as separate sites in their own right.”
Berwick Bank and Marr Bank are both at the development stage of their projects. Berwick Bank could be operational as soon as 2027 with Marr Bank following slightly later timescales. Berwick Bank wind farm has secured a grid connection at Branxton, near Torness, in East Lothian.
Further information on the Berwick Bank and Marr Bank wind farm developments can be found by visiting sserenewables.com/berwickbankandmarrbank.