BP and partner EnBW said they aim to build almost 3GW of offshore wind off Scotland and turn oil-rich Aberdeen into a global centre for the technology, as more details emerged of bids in the ScotWind tender for new seabed leases that closed for entries on Friday.

The UK-based supermajor and German utility have applied for a lease area that could support 2.9GW, they said as they outlined plans for a “multi-billion pound” offshore wind investment that would integrate with sectors such as green hydrogen and EV charging.

BP confirmed to Recharge that the bids relate to fixed-bottom offshore wind.

BP said a successful bid would see Aberdeen – the centre of the UK’s oil & gas industry – become a “global offshore wind centre of excellence” supporting its expansion in wind at sea across the world.

BP, EnBW and Forth Ports have already signed a Heads of Terms agreement “with a financial commitment that will supplement Forth Ports’ £40m ($55m) investment in their planned Renewables Hub at the Port of Leith” in Edinburgh, said a statement.

Dev Sanyal, BP executive vice president for gas and low carbon, said: “Through our bid we aim to do far more than only develop offshore wind – we believe it can help fuel Scotland’s wider energy transition.

“We want to harness the clean power from Scotland’s offshore wind and use our capabilities as an integrated energy company to accelerate the country’s EV charging network, build its hydrogen offering and strengthen its supporting infrastructure, including ports and harbours.”

BP and EnBW first announced plans earlier this year to enter ScotWind, reprising a partnership that saw them win acreage in the Irish Sea off northwest England in the UK Round 4 leasing round earlier this year.

They joined a clutch of power giants and oil & gas industry players in the ScotWind bidding, which represents the first time globally that leasing opportunities for both fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind have been available in the first tender and hopes to spur 10GW of development.

Equinor back for more

Norwegian oil & gas group Equinor – which has already built the world’s first commercial floating wind array, Hywind Scotland, off the nation’s coasts – said it would target floating.

Senior vice president for business development in Renewables, Jens Økland, said: “By leveraging our offshore execution capabilities and our leading position in floating offshore wind, we are ready to create more long-term value and drive the industrialisation of floating offshore wind further.

“We see floating wind as an enabler for the Scottish Government to achieve its offshore wind targets and help reach its ambitious net zero target of 2045.”

Also eyeing floating success is Magnora Offshore Wind, a Norwegian oil & gas spin-off that is partnering for ScotWind with engineering group TechnipFMC, pioneer of the ‘Deep Purple’ offshore hydrogen storage system.

Magnora told its shareholders: “Magnora Offshore Wind has worked closely with the local supply chain to ensure that concepts can be realised with local sustainable solutions, which will benefit the local economies for the next decades.

“When combined with TechnipFMC's unique technologies, experience delivering integrated projects and novel Deep Purple initiative to integrate wind and wave energy with offshore green hydrogen storage, this partnership will enable Magnora Offshore Wind to realise significant opportunities in the growing offshore floating wind market.”

Note: Amends earlier version to clarify that bid is for fixed bottom projects