The Scottish government has approved the development of what will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm, located 38km off Scotland’s east coast.
The Berwick Bank Wind Farm, planned for the outer Firth of Forth near East Lothian, is designed to deliver 4.1 gigawatts of electricity—enough to power over 7.5 million homes.
The decision marks a major milestone for developer SSE Renewables, although the company has yet to make a final investment decision. That step hinges on securing a favourable energy price through the UK government’s Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme.
Offshore wind is expected to play a pivotal role in achieving the UK’s goal of a net zero electricity grid by 2030, set by energy minister Ed Miliband. However, many experts remain sceptical about hitting that target on time.
Under the CfD system, the government guarantees wind farm revenues by topping up payments when market prices fall below agreed levels—and clawing back funds when prices are high. This mechanism is central to the financial viability of large-scale renewable energy projects.
Stephen Wheeler, managing director of SSE Renewables, said
“The Scottish government’s decision to grant a consent order for Berwick Bank offshore wind farm is hugely welcome. At over 4GW of potential capacity, Berwick Bank can play a pivotal role in meeting the mission of clean power 2030 for the UK and achieving Scotland’s decarbonisation and climate action goals.
Berwick Bank has the potential to rapidly scale-up Scotland’s operational renewable energy capacity and can accelerate the delivery of homegrown, affordable and secure clean energy to UK consumers from Scottish offshore wind, helping meet the UK’s clean power ambition by 2030.”
