Moray West Wind Farm
Moray West Wind Farm is an 882 MW offshore wind farm located in the outer Moray Firth off the coast of north-east Scotland. It is located adjacent to the Moray East Wind Farm, both of which are just south of the Beatrice Wind Farm. The wind farm is around north of Buckie, and from the coast of Caithness.
The Moray West wind farm is operated by Ocean Winds, a 50:50 joint venture between EDP Renewables and Engie. Ocean Winds have commercial power purchase agreements with Amazon and Google, respectively for 473 MW and 100 MW of power from the wind farm.
It was consented in 2019, with first power was exported in July 2024 and the farm reached full power output in April 2025.
Technology
The wind farm has 60 Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222 DD turbines, each rated at 14.7 MW. The long blades were built in Hull. The turbines are mounted on tall towers and monopile foundations driven into the seabed.Moray West has two offshore substations and of subsea power export cables. These make landfall at West Head, between Sandend and Portsoy. The original proposal to use Sandend beach was opposed by locals. A new underground cable transmits the power to a new substation and National Grid connection at Blackhillock Substation.
History
The Port of Nigg was used as the marshalling facility for the construction.In 2019, the project received all the required consents.
In summer and autumn 2022, offshore geophysical and geotechnical investigations plus unexploded ordnance surveys were undertaken within the wind farm site and power export cable corridor.
In July 2022, the project was awarded Contracts for Difference for 294 MW at £37.35/MWh as part of Allocation Round 4. Subsequently, part of this capacity was re-bid into Allocation Round 6 at a higher price, with 73.5 MW awarded contracts at £54.23/MWh in September 2024.
The first turbine was installed in April 2024.
In July 2024, the wind farm was connected to the grid, by which point all of the foundations and nearly a third of the turbines had been installed.
On 24 April 2025, the wind farm was officially switched on by Ian Murray the Scottish Secretary.