Caithness information events planned ahead of Ayre Offshore Wind Farm

Five public information events are being held in Caithness next month ahead of an offshore wind scheme that will see cables being brought ashore at Sinclair's Bay.

The one-gigawatt Ayre Offshore Wind Farm, being developed by Thistle Wind Partners (TWP) some 33km to the east of Orkney, is expected to connect to the electricity transmission network at Spittal. The site of this connection is likely to be confirmed over the coming months.

TWP proposes to feed energy from the wind farm into the grid by running cables to shore at a point in the Sinclair’s Bay area.

These underground cables will connect to a TWP substation. From there, cables will connect to the transmission network at a new substation being developed by SSEN Transmission.

TWP will host information events in Keiss, Thurso, Halkirk, Spittal and Wick in November in advance of formal public consultations in 2024. Depending on consents, construction of the onshore infrastructure is likely to begin from 2028, with the wind farm going into construction the following year and first power to the grid expected in the early 2030s.

In choosing locations for the floating-foundation project, TWP says it will ensure that these meet the criteria of the energy regulator Ofgem for economic efficiency. The company says other factors for consideration will be the feasibility of civil engineering works and potential impact on the natural environment, communities, transport routes and historic monuments.

TWP project director Ian Taylor said: “We are looking forward to meeting people in the region and introducing the plans for our Ayre Offshore Wind Farm. The events will help us to understand the local area better, listen to suggestions and concerns, and make sure our planning is fully informed.

“We are a new developer, and we are new to the region, but we have set firm targets for bringing local Scottish businesses into our supply chain, and we are firmly committed to helping the local economy in Caithness to benefit from the presence of our wind farm in the long term.”

The TWP community events are planned for Keiss village hall on Tuesday, November 21, from 2pm to 8pm; the Park Hotel, Thurso, on Wednesday, November 22, from 2pm to 8pm; the Ross Institute, Halkirk, on Thursday, November 23, from 2pm to 8pm; Spittal village hall on Friday, November 24, from 2pm to 8pm; and the Norseman Hotel, Wick, on Saturday, November 25, from noon to 6pm.

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