An onshore planning application has been submitted for the Green Volt floating wind farm off Peterhead, a joint venture between Flotation Energy and Vargronn (a partnership between Eni and HitecVision). The proposed 560-megawatt wind farm aims to provide renewable electricity to oil and gas platforms, replacing gas turbines while supplying clean energy to the UK grid.

The project envisions installing 30 to 35 floating turbines anchored at a brownfield site, formerly occupied by the Ettrick and Blackbird oilfields, located approximately 46 miles off the Aberdeenshire coast. The wind farm is expected to benefit oil and gas platforms, including Cnooc's Buzzard platform, the highest producing oilfield in the UK.

Flotation and Vargronn have engaged in pre-application consultations with local stakeholders to devise draft traffic and environmental management plans aimed at minimizing disruptions during the construction phase. The planning submission also includes the proposed cable route, selected based on feedback from stakeholders. The onshore substation required to connect the wind farm to the grid is planned to be built near New Deer.

Green Volt is expected to contribute significantly to the North Sea Transition Deal's goal of halving offshore emissions by 2030 and Scotland's 2045 Net Zero target. The project is anticipated to create nearly 3,000 jobs within the first three years of operation and approximately 100 jobs over the 35-year lifespan of the wind farm.

The final investment decision for Green Volt is projected to be made towards the end of next year, with operations expected to begin in 2027. The project will be one of the world's largest floating offshore wind farms and the most advanced oil and gas decarbonization initiative in the UK.

Flotation Energy previously won two sites in Crown Estate Scotland's INTOG leasing round and has experience in spearheading the 50-MW Kincardine floating wind farm near Aberdeen.

Tom Harrison, onshore consenter, emphasized the collaboration with the local community from an early stage, aiming to boost the local economy and infrastructure. Green Volt is set to contribute £2.5 billion of gross value add (GVA) to the economy over its lifetime, with £759 million of this expected to be retained in Scotland.