Crown Estate Scotland opens INTOG offshore wind leasing round

Crown Estate Scotland today launched the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) offshore wind leasing process, seeking proposals from developers for innovation projects of below 100 MW and for projects to decarbonise oil and gas infrastructure.

Today starts a two-week registration window. It will be followed immediately by an application window, which is due to close on November 18. The body said that based on the number of applications, the results of the leasing round are expected to be known by end-March 2023.

The areas available for bidding are outlined in the Scottish government’s Initial Plan Framework. 

The maximum total capacity available under exclusivity agreement for targeted oil and gas projects is 5.7 GW, while for innovation projects it is 500 MW.

“Platform electrification, which INTOG will help deliver, will reduce North Sea oil and gas emissions while also supporting new skills and jobs,” said Colin Palmer, director of marine for Crown Estate Scotland. “Taken as a whole, INTOG will play a significant role in helping us reach net-zero and meet our energy requirements of the future,”  Palmer added.

The leasing round is expected to help achieve the emissions reduction goals of the North Sea Transition Deal agreed between the government and industry in 2021.

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