Qair has gained planning consent from Highland Council for the onshore infrastructure associated with the Ayre Offshore Wind Farm, marking a significant milestone for our first offshore wind project in the UK.
Located to the east of Orkney, Ayre is a proposed 1 GW floating offshore wind project that will utilise floating turbine technology to harness strong wind resources in deeper waters.
Once operational, the project is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to power more than 1.2 million homes, supporting the UK’s transition to a secure, low-carbon energy system. The project is also expected to create supply chain opportunities and skilled jobs across the North of Scotland during construction and throughout its operational lifetime.
The approved application covers the onshore transmission infrastructure required to connect the offshore wind farm to the national electricity network, including a cable landfall, underground cable circuits, a new onshore substation and associated infrastructure connecting to the transmission network in the Spittal area of Caithness.
The milestone represents an important step in Qair UK’s expansion into offshore wind, adding 1 GW of capacity to our growing UK renewable energy portfolio, which already includes more than 5 GW of projects in development across wind, solar and battery storage.
Ayre also builds on Qair’s experience in floating offshore wind, including the Eolmed project in Port-la-Nouvelle, France, further strengthening the group’s position in innovative offshore renewable technologies.
Subject to securing the remaining consents, construction of the project is anticipated to begin around 2030.
For more information, visit Ayre’s webpage or follow Ayre Offshore Wind Farm on LinkedIn.