The Scottish energy company SSE has received approval from the Scottish government to develop the 4.1 GW Berwick Bank offshore wind park, located in the outer Firth of Forth off the East Lothian coast in Scotland (United Kingdom). This marks the final major regulatory consent required for the project to proceed.
The next steps depend on SSE securing a contract through the UK’s Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme for low-carbon electricity, and reaching a final investment decision (FID). The company plans to take part in an upcoming government auction (AR7 auction round) that supports renewable energy initiatives. A successful bid would allow it to sell electricity at fixed prices for at least 20 years. If fully realised, Berwick Bank would become the world’s largest offshore wind installation, capable of supplying clean electricity to over six million homes each year.
In June 2025, the Scottish Government launched a public consultation on raising the national offshore wind target to 40 GW by 2040, up from 8–11 GW by 2030. It estimates a potential of 40 GW by 2035 and remains committed to net-zero emissions by 2045.