Crown Estate Scotland, which is currently reviewing the ScotWind Leasing Round applications , will open a new leasing process early next year, dedicated specifically to offshore wind projects which support the decarbonisation of the oil and gas sector, and to small-scale innovation projects of less than 100 MW.

Scotland’s seabed manager announced the new leasing round shortly after the Scottish Government opened consultation related to a new Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind for Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas Decarbonisation (INTOG). The consultation is gathering input on the new planning process which will inform the areas to be made available for seabed leases.