SSE Renewables Receives Final Approval for Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm

SSE Renewables has secured the final major consent for its 4.1 GW Berwick Bank offshore wind farm, with Scottish ministers granting approval under Section 36 for the project’s main offshore array.

Located about 38km off the East Lothian coast in the outer Firth of Forth, the Berwick Bank site stands ready to move toward construction, pending a successful outcome in the UK’s Contracts for Difference (CfD) allocation and a final investment decision.

If fully built, Berwick Bank would become the largest offshore wind farm in the world, capable of generating enough clean electricity to power more than 6m UK homes annually.

The project, larger than the 3.6 GW Dogger Bank currently under construction in the North Sea, could create as many as 9,300 jobs across the UK at peak construction, including over 4,600 in Scotland. It is also expected to contribute around £8.3 billion in economic value over its lifespan, SSE noted.

SSE welcomed the decision, describing it as a pivotal moment for the UK’s clean energy ambitions and energy security targets.

“This is a significant step forward for a project of national importance,” the company said.

The final approval allows SSE to move ahead with commercial planning, though project execution will depend on securing a route to market under the CfD scheme, which supports low-carbon electricity generation in the UK.