Offshore Wind Energy Jobs
Scotland’s renewable energy capacity is increasing. It grew by 700MW between 2009 and 2020, and by 1,621MW between 2021 and 2022 alone. As the Scottish government has a legal obligation to meet its 2045 net zero emissions target, it’s anticipated that the renewables sector - including offshore wind - will continue to grow over the next two decades.
Developments in offshore wind have already created many job opportunities, with over 6,700 working in the sector in 2020 (
Scottish Renewables).
Locations
ScotWind and other leasing rounds have created opportunities all over Scotland, with significant investment planned off the east coast of Scotland. All of the major ports and harbours are expected to benefit from the growth in the sector, including Aberdeenshire, Moray, Angus and the Lothians.
As part of the major ScotWind leasing initiative managed by
Crown Estate Scotland, 17 sites across the north-east Scottish seabed were awarded to developers, on the condition that they start generating electricity within a set timeframe.
Seven wind farms are already in operation, with the capacity to generate 1.9 GW of electricity - enough to power roughly one million homes. The ScotWind initiative could eventually generate 30 GW of electricity.
Leading employers
Currently, almost 30,000 people work in the Scottish renewables and low carbon industries, but with major developments in the pipeline, that figure is set to increase.
There are several prominent employers within this sector, including:
Crown Estate Scotland is responsible for the management of the ScotWind initiative, as well as of the Scottish seabed. It liaises with several energy developers and ensures each project is compliant with its regulatory requirements.
-
SSE Renewables & TotalEnergies
Long-established developer SSE Renewables operates the Seagreen site in tandem with TotalEnergies. It is currently Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm, with 114 turbines displacing 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. A further 36 turbines are still to be constructed.
Working alongside
EnBW, bp will develop the 860km2 Morven site, some 60 km off the coast of Aberdeen. The fixed-bottom offshore wind project will have a generating capacity of 2.9 gigawatts of energy - enough to power over three million homes.
Shell was awarded the rights to develop two floating wind farms sites with joint venture partner ScottishPower. The MarramWind located off the north-east coast could deliver up to 3 GW of renewable energy, while the CampionWind development to the east coast will have a 2 GW capacity.
-
Ocean Winds and Mainstream Renewable Power
The Arven Offshore Wind farm to the east of the Shetland Islands is divided into two sites - one of which will be developed by
Ocean Winds and Mainstream, and has a capacity of 1.8 GW. The second 500 MW capacity will be developed by Ocean Winds only.
In addition to the two sites developed in tandem with Shell,
ScottishPower was awarded the seabed rights to develop an additional fixed offshore wind farm, MachairWind, off the coast of Islay, which has a 2GW capacity.
-
Falck Renewables and BlueFloat Energy
Located off the east coast of Aberdeen, three seabed sites will be developed with large-scale floating wind farms by
Falck Renewables and BlueFloat Energy. The three sites have a total capacity of 3GW.
2.1 million Scottish homes could be powered with renewable energy from two
Northland Power offshore wind sites - Spiorad na Mara and Havbredey, off the coast of the Outer Hebrides. The developments will displace roughly 3.56m tonnes of CO2 each year.
Offshore Wind Farm Jobs
The offshore wind sector in Scotland is thriving, making it an excellent career prospect for suitable candidates. Focuses include development, consenting, supply chain & procurement, design, offshore construction, and operations.
Most people already working in renewable or traditional energy roles will have transferable skills, with the industry welcoming people interested in making a career pivot.
Opportunities
At Eden Scott, we work with prominent employers to appoint roles within the offshore wind sector in Scotland. Below are some of the most popular roles we recruit for.
Offshore Wind Development Manager
Development Managers lead efforts to implement offshore wind initiatives without friction. They navigate market changes, identify opportunities for growth and address deployment barriers. They will often represent their organisations in industry groups and coordinate studies to address specific issues within the sector. Their responsibilities include leasing and supply chain management.
Offshore Wind Project Manager
Project Managers oversee collaboration and communication within their organisation. They make sure that construction and commissioning activities are aligned. Their responsibilities include ensuring compliance with HSE, quality, planning, risk assessment and cost requirements. They also implement best practices from technical departments, ensuring offshore and onshore activities comply with project specifications and agreed schedules.
Lead Consents Manager
Consent managers are responsible for all aspects of project development including acquiring land rights, managing stakeholders and regulators, advising projects and asset managers and offering expertise for site acquisitions and planning, both offshore and onshore. The role involves presenting and reporting strategic consent issues to project teams, board members and wider stakeholders.
Final thoughts
For individuals considering a career shift or those already in the energy sector, the offshore wind industry offers a wide range of opportunities. The future of offshore wind jobs in Scotland is promising, making it an appealing industry for those looking to contribute to sustainable energy initiatives. As Scotland moves towards a Just Transition, the offshore wind sector presents opportunities to oil and gas professionals who want to leverage their offshore construction and operations & maintenance (O&M) experience.
