ScotWind: RPS chosen by bp and EnBW to complete environmental assessment and consenting support

19 Apr 2022

RPS has been selected to complete the Environmental Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) for the development of the Morven Offshore Wind Farm - a fixed offshore wind farm to be located off the east coast of Scotland. The project has a potential generating capacity of 2.9GW (sufficient to power the equivalent of more than 3 million homes).

Nicola Simpson, Technical Director, Offshore Wind, said, “We are delighted to support Morven Offshore Wind Limited on this offshore wind farm project, an exciting step in the bp and EnBW renewables strategy for offshore wind, and in the further development of the Scottish offshore wind industry.

We have a 20-year history delivering renewables projects in the United Kingdom, including leading offshore consenting and licence activities for Scotland’s Berwick Bank Wind Farm. Delivering the Morven project will continue RPS’ support to bp and EnBW, we are currently supporting them as their ESIA consultant for their lease areas in the Irish sea, the Morgan and Mona wind farm projects – their first foray into the UK offshore wind market.

The competitive ScotWind offshore wind leasing process was the first in Scotland in over a decade. Of 74 applications, 17 projects were selected, for up to 25 GW, which will provide for the expanding electrification of the Scottish economy as we move to net zero. bp also plans to make Aberdeen its global operations and maintenance centre of excellence for offshore wind, which is expected to create up to 120 new jobs and contribute up to £40 million to the economy per year.

The RPS team are based in Edinburgh and Aberdeen and offer some of the most up-to-date offshore wind consenting experience in Scotland. We will partner with Aberdeen-based consultants Wood to facilitate the onshore aspects of the Morven project. In addition, we have selected specialist Scottish subcontractors Anatec (Shipping & Navigation) and BiGGAR Economic (Socio-Economic), enabling us to bring a strong contribution to the Scottish supply chain for this project.

About RPS

Founded in 1970, RPS is a leading global professional services firm of 5,000+ consultants and service providers. Having operated in 125 countries, across all six continents, RPS defines, designs and manages projects that create shared value for a complex, urbanising and resource scarce world.

RPS’ extensive offshore wind experience includes 20 years at the forefront of the industry, working across the UK, wider Europe, America, Australia and Asia. We have worked on both floating offshore wind and fixed foundation offshore wind projects, and we have deep experience in the provision of technical consultancy and operational support for the energy sector.

Past and present projects include sector firsts such as the world’s largest offshore wind farms, Hornsea One, Two and Three. We are currently delivering the Morgan and Mona projects for bp and EnBW joint venture and Berwick Bank Wind Farm for SSE in the UK and supporting the offshore approvals for Australia’s first offshore wind development, Star of the South. We are also providing marine subject matter expertise to support Vineyard Wind, the United States’ first utility-scale offshore wind energy project, and have been selected as ESIA consultant for Equinor’s Firefly floating offshore wind project in South Korea.

RPS stands out for its clients by using its deep expertise to solve problems that matter, making them easy to understand. Making complex easy.

RPS’ London Stock Exchange ticker is RPS.L. 

Contact us

Ruth De Silva - Associate Director, Offshore Wind Scotland

Ruth De Silva

Associate Director - Offshore Wind Scotland T: 01291 645010 Email
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Simpson_Nicola_20181210_waistup_highres.jpg

Nicola Simpson

Technical Director, RPS Marine Consenting & Environment T: +44 (0) 1483 746500 Email

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