Ocean Winds has secured full onshore planning consent for its 2 GW Caledonia offshore wind farm after Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee approved the remaining application on 14 May.
The approval covers around 3 km of underground cable infrastructure needed to connect the project to the national electricity transmission network.
The onshore substation at Burnside received planning consent in July 2025. A separate application was later required for the underground cable corridor after regulatory and grid connection updates led to a limited route change. The revised connection is needed to link Caledonia with the planned SSEN Transmission substation at Greens.
Ocean Winds said the cable route was shaped by environmental assessments and consultation with statutory bodies, including SEPA, Historic Environment Scotland and NatureScot. The cable will be installed underground and is not expected to create any permanent visual impact.
Onshore construction is planned to begin in 2028.
Mark Baxter, Caledonia Project Director, said the approval represents a further step in moving the project forward. He said the underground cable connection is essential for linking the wind farm to the transmission network and delivering renewable energy at scale in support of Scotland’s and the UK’s energy transition plans.
Ocean Winds secured development rights for Caledonia through the Scottish Government’s ScotWind leasing round in 2022.
With the onshore infrastructure now fully consented, Ocean Winds is awaiting the Scottish Government’s decision on offshore consent for the project.
