NEART NA GAOITHE OFFSHORE WIND FARM: Clean Power, Scottish Pride

In Scotland’s urgent pursuit of net-zero, one project is delivering. As wind projects across the UK and Europe face grid bottlenecks, planning challenges, and rising costs, the Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) Offshore Wind Farm has pressed on—methodically, professionally, and with powerful results. 

GREEN GAPS 

In a country as wind-rich as Scotland, it seems wild that achieving a steady supply of clean electricity still poses some challenges. In 2022, almost 88% of Scotland’s electricity generation came from renewable sources, but with 2030 just around the corner there is more to be done. Issues around planning, transmission capacity, and financing have left a green gap—one that energy leaders have been eager to close. 

Enter Neart na Gaoithe: a 450 MW offshore wind farm, 15.5 kilometres off the Fife coast. Backed by EDF Renewables UK and ESB, and first proposed over a decade ago, the project has faced its share of trials—including marine permitting delays, a global pandemic, and inflationary headwinds—but it’s now poised to supply clean electricity for more than 375,000 homes, avoiding over 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. 

“NnG is a pivotal project in the EDF Renewables UK and Ireland portfolio as we accelerate towards a net zero future where clean energy powers our lives,” said Director of Offshore and Ireland for EDF Renewables, Ryanne Burges. 

FIRST POWER 

On 10 October 2024, NnG announced that it had successfully generated first power from one of its Siemens Gamesa turbines. The electricity was exported via subsea cables to an onshore substation in East Lothian—marking the beginning of a new chapter in Scottish offshore generation. 

“This is great for the project and is a positive step in achieving the country’s net zero targets,” said Matthias Haag, NnG Project Director. “We have worked closely with the local communities and we thank them for their patience as we’ve progressed towards this milestone. This is the beginning of a new chapter in the life story of NnG as we work to completion.”

First power came after years of complex offshore engineering. Foundations had to be installed in deep and turbulent waters of the North Sea. Transmission infrastructure had to be laid with minimal ecological impact. And turbine components were shipped and installed in one of the most logistically demanding marine environments in Europe. 

Despite these challenges, the project moved steadily forward, supported by a well-coordinated supply chain and strategic use of Scottish ports—including the Port of Dundee, which played a central role in turbine logistics. 

BUILDING THE FARM 

Construction across NnG’s 105 km² site began in earnest in 2019, and has continued through one of the most complex macroeconomic periods in recent history. From Brexit-related workforce shortages to COVID-related supply slowdowns, offshore projects across Europe have suffered delays and cost blowouts. Yet NnG pushed forward.

“NnG has been under construction since 2019 and has faced significant challenges, not least during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Matthias Haag. “As we have worked towards completion, we have celebrated key moments including the start of offshore construction in 2020, the first jacket installation in 2020 and first turbine installation in 2023.”

This April, the project marked a defining achievement: the installation of the final wind turbine. This milestone means that all 54 Siemens Gamesa turbines are now in place and generating clean energy. 

“The successful installation of all 54 turbines is a credit to the hard work and professionalism of everyone working on the project and the result of excellent collaboration with our contractor Siemens Gamesa,” Haag added. 

Each turbine stands 204 metres tall from sea level to blade tip and weighs more than 1,000 tonnes. The sheer scale of the machines—and the coordination required to install them in North Sea conditions—is testament to the capability of the teams involved. The Brave Tern installation vessel made repeat journeys between Dundee and the site, enabling smooth, repeatable turbine delivery over many months. 

SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES 

But it isn’t just about the engineering. From the outset, NnG’s leadership committed to supporting local communities in tangible ways. As of April 2025, the project had funded 24 community-led initiatives across Fife and the Borders, with a focus on education, heritage, wellbeing, and coastal conservation. 

“The NnG project has delivered real and lasting benefits to communities in the Scottish Borders and East Lothian,” said Matthias Haag. “I’m proud that NnG has been able to support a diverse mix of initiatives, all of which are close to the hearts of those living and working near the project.”

Beneficiaries include Berwickshire Marine Reserve, which received support to carry out marine awareness programmes; Dunbar Youth Football Club, which expanded its reach to more young players; Crail Garden Co-op, which promotes food sustainability; and the Anstruther Philharmonic Society, fostering music in the region. 

In addition, NnG has anchored permanent operational jobs in Eyemouth, where the wind farm’s Operations and Maintenance Base now employs 27 staff. Over the 25-year lifespan of the wind farm, around 50 long-term jobs will be supported from this facility—creating skilled, local employment and contributing directly to the coastal economy. 

STRATEGIC FIT 

As the UK looks to triple its offshore wind capacity to 50 GW by 2030, Neart na Gaoithe offers a practical case study in how to deliver. It has survived delays, political uncertainty, and economic turbulence—and emerged as a model of offshore resilience and local value.

The International Energy Agency (IEA), in its United Kingdom 2024 Energy Policy Review, describes offshore wind as “an indispensable pillar of the UK’s clean energy transition.” 

With domestic fossil generation declining and energy demand projected to rise—especially as transport and heat electrify—the UK needs offshore wind to succeed, at scale.

“Achieving the UK’s ambitious 2030 goals will require not only strong policy alignment and investment, but a track record of project delivery,” the IEA notes. “The UK must maintain investor confidence and scale up grid infrastructure to unlock the full value of its offshore wind potential.” 

NnG also represents the growing role of international collaboration. Developed by EDF Renewables UK (a subsidiary of French utility EDF) and Irish energy company ESB, it is a cross-border venture grounded in Scottish soil—another sign of the UK’s strategic role in Europe’s green power ecosystem.

DELIVERING A LEGACY 

With all 54 turbines installed and commissioning entering its final phase, NnG is close to realising its promise. Full commercial operations are expected later this year. For Haag and his team, the project’s success is a source of pride: “We look forward to the project’s completion later this year and the start of its 25-year operational life.”

For Scotland, it’s a big step in a wider energy story. One that’s not just about hitting climate targets, but about restoring industrial capability, training the next generation of engineers, and putting coastal communities at the centre of the clean energy transition.

In an industry hungry for success stories, Neart na Gaoithe is already shining brightly.