Overview

The Arven Offshore Wind Farm is a 2.3 GW renewable energy project located in the North Sea, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is expected to begin construction in 2026 and commence commercial operation in 2030 with an estimated project value of GBP 2.7 Billion (USD 3.5 Billion). The project is being developed by a 50-50 partnership between Mainstream Renewable Power (a subsidiary of Aker Horizons) and Ocean Winds.

The Arven project combines two sites east of the Shetland Islands: a 1.8 GW site awarded to a Mainstream-Ocean Winds joint venture and a separate 500 MW site awarded to Ocean Winds. Mainstream has acquired a 50% stake in the 500 MW project, and both sites are now being developed collaboratively to maximize their potential.

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Arven Floating Offshore Wind Location

Source: Arvenoffshorewind

The Arven Offshore Wind Farm is situated off the east coast of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, within a designated area called NE1 by Crown Estate Scotland.

The project area lies approximately 22 kilometers from Shetland and has a water depth of around 100 meters. This depth is well-suited for deploying floating wind turbine foundations, a key technology utilized by Arven.

Project Background

The Arven Offshore Wind Farm is a part of Scotland's strategic plan for offshore wind energy. The Scottish Government's Marine Directorate identified the project area through environmental, social, and economic assessments, outlining it within their 2020 Sectoral Marine Plan. Following this plan, Crown Estate Scotland, responsible for managing Scotland's seabed leases, launched a floating offshore wind tender called the ScotWind Leasing Round. This round awarded development rights to Arven's partnering companies, Mainstream Renewable Power and Ocean Winds holding company, for two sites within a designated area (NE1).

The Arven Offshore Floating Wind Farm is situated east of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, in an area with exceptional wind resources and a water depth ideal for deploying floating wind turbine foundations. This proximity to the Shetland Islands, coupled with existing oil and gas infrastructure, offers opportunities for future project development and potential use of the generated power.

Spread over an area of 360km², the wind turbines will be mounted on floating foundations, making this an important project in floating offshore wind technology. Construction is expected to commence in 2026 with commercial operation targeted for 2030.

Ocean Winds, established by EDP Renewables and ENGIE, is a global developer focused on offshore wind with over 10 years of experience and the second largest such developer in Scotland. Mainstream Renewable Power, a leading renewable energy company with a 20.8 GW global portfolio, brings experience developing large-scale offshore wind projects worldwide, including Hornsea One, the world's largest operational floating offshore wind site at the time of development.

Read: Top 7 Floating Offshore Wind Projects in United Kingdom (UK)

Project Timeline

Project Specifications 

The Arven Floating Offshore Wind Project will utilize floating wind turbines. Specific details about the turbines and foundations are still being developed, the project documents offer some insights into the technology that will be used. These foundations will be outfitted with mooring or anchoring systems to keep them securely positioned despite variations in wind and current.

The number of turbines deployed will depend on the chosen model's megawatt (MW) capacity. The project is expected to have a maximum of 161 turbines located within the designated array area.

Electricity generated by the turbines will be collected by offshore substations. These offshore platforms can be situated either above the water's surface or on the seabed within the array areas. Underwater inter-array cables will connect the individual turbines to these substations.

Once collected by the substations, the electricity will be transmitted via subsea offshore export cables to the landfall location. From there, buried onshore transmission cables will connect the landfall to a new onshore substation, which will integrate the generated power into the national grid.

Read: Top 7 Upcoming Floating Offshore Wind Projects In the World

Project Cost

The Arven Floating Offshore Wind Farm is estimated to cost GBP 2.7 billion (USD 3.5 billion) with the majority of expenditure (over GBP 1.6 billion) expected to occur within Scotland. A breakdown of the project's anticipated costs reveals GBP 1.1 billion allocated for manufacturing and fabrication, GBP 412 million for installation, and GBP 531 million for operation over the first six years. Geographically, the project expenditure is spread across Scotland (highest at GBP 1.6 billion), and the rest of the United Kingdom (GBP 1.1 billion). 

Current Status & Future Outlook

Currently, in the development phase, Arven is gathering environmental data and preparing reports. Key milestones include submitting consent applications in 2026 and starting construction in the early 2030s, with operations aimed for the mid-2030s. 

The offshore scoping report was submitted to the Scottish Government’s marine directorate in June, 2024 and its onshore scoping report is expected in 2025.

Sustainable Goals

Arven Floating Offshore Wind Farm is focused on sustainability and energy transition, accelerating Scotland's net zero journey. Generating clean energy for 2 million homes annually cuts reliance on fossil fuels and reduces CO2 emissions by an estimated 3 million tonnes per year.  

Summary

The Arven Floating Offshore Wind Farm represents a significant advancement in renewable energy, showcasing the potential for harnessing wind energy in deep-sea environments. Mainstream Renewable Power and Ocean Winds spearhead this project, projecting a construction start date in 2026 and a capacity of 2.3 GW. Arven is expected to commence commercial operation by 2030, playing a crucial role in Scotland's journey towards carbon neutrality and setting a precedent for renewable energy projects around the world.

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