Buchan Offshore Wind appoints Kent as owner’s engineer to advance Scotland’s near 1GW floating wind project toward FEED

Buchan Offshore Wind has appointed engineering firm Kent—backed by specialist partners Vekta Group and New Power Partners—as owner’s engineer for its nearly 1 GW floating offshore wind project off the Scottish coast. The announcement marks a key milestone as the project moves toward front-end engineering design and, ultimately, a final investment decision before construction begins by the end of the decade.

Situated 46.6 miles northeast of Fraserburgh, it’s one of the most advanced commercial-scale floating wind developments in Scotland.

Kent appointed as owner’s engineer for Buchan floating wind project

Buchan Offshore Wind formally appointed Kent following strong market engagement for the position. The appointment also brings in specialist support from Vekta Group and New Power Partners, strengthening the engineering capability available to the project team.

For a development of this scale and technical complexity, the Owner’s Engineer role carries real weight. Kent’s integrated team will be responsible for derisking the project through technical and delivery expertise—work that needs to happen before FEED can begin in earnest.

This fits into a broader pattern of momentum at Buchan. Over the past year, the project has advanced across engineering maturation, technical definition, and both offshore and onshore consenting activity. The owner’s engineer appointment is the latest step designed to keep that progress going.

Why the appointment was made and what Kent brings to the project

Kent wasn’t simply handed the role. The appointment followed a competitive market engagement process, and the firm’s track record in offshore wind clearly played a part.

Kent brings hands-on experience across both floating and fixed-bottom offshore wind. The firm currently holds roles on major UK developments, including Berwick Bank, Mona, and Morgan, and has floating wind-specific experience on projects like Kincardine and Llyr. That combination of fixed-bottom scale and floating wind specialization maps directly onto what Buchan requires.

Geography matters here too. Kent operates out of Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen — putting local expertise and supply chain knowledge close to where the project is being built. For a development anchored in Scotland’s industrial and engineering ecosystem, that proximity isn’t incidental. Brian Horne, Technical and Engineering Director at Buchan Offshore Wind, noted that Kent brings “strong offshore wind experience, deep offshore engineering heritage, and a highly capable integrated team. “The goal,” he said, “is to maintain the momentum of project delivery as the team works toward the imminent commencement of FEED.

Scope of work and next development phases

Kent’s responsibilities as owner’s engineer span a wide range of technical activities: electrical balance of plant development, FEED planning, package engineering coordination, and preparation of FEED tender documentation. The team will also provide wider technical governance across Buchan’s delivery program.

Jason Brown, Global Offshore Wind Market Director at Kent, described the project as “important for the future of floating offshore wind in the UK.” He said the firm would support “safe, efficient, and delivery-focused progression” as the project advances toward execution.

On the consenting front, one significant hurdle has already been cleared. Aberdeenshire Council granted consent for the onshore electrical infrastructure in May 2025, removing a meaningful uncertainty from the development timeline. The Scottish Government’s determination on the offshore consent application is anticipated by the end of 2026—and if that goes as expected, construction could begin before the end of the decade.

Project background: Floating wind technology and Scotland’s supply chain

Buchan Offshore Wind is a joint venture between three equal partners: BayWa r.e., BW Ideol, and Elicio. BayWa r.e. is an international renewable energy business with UK offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh. BW Ideol is a proven floating technology leader and international co-developer. Elicio brings experience as a Belgian offshore wind developer, owner, and operator.

The technology at the heart of the project is BW Ideol’s Damping Pool® floating foundation, which uses concrete rather than steel. If the project proceeds as planned, it would mark the deployment of Scotland’s first concrete floating foundations—a meaningful technical and industrial first for the country.

That distinction matters beyond the project itself. Buchan is explicitly positioned as a pathfinder for commercial-scale floating offshore wind, intended to anchor new industrial capability and catalyze Scotland’s broader floating wind supply chain—one the project is designed to harness and build upon. At near 1GW of capacity, the wind farm could generate enough electricity to power more than one million UK homes once operational, placing it firmly in the category of nationally significant infrastructure.

Electrical balance, FEED planning, package engineering, tenders, and governance

Here’s where things stand: Buchan Offshore Wind has appointed Kent, supported by Vekta Group and New Power Partners, as Owner’s Engineer for its nearly 1 GW floating offshore wind project off Fraserburgh. The appointment follows strong market engagement and positions Kent’s Scotland-based team to lead technical derisking ahead of FEED.

Kent’s scope covers electrical balance of plant, FEED planning, package engineering, tender documentation, and technical governance. Onshore consent was secured in May 2025. Offshore consent from the Scottish government is expected by the end of 2026, with construction targeted before 2030.

The project—a joint venture between BayWa r.e., BW Ideol, and Elicio—would deploy Scotland’s first concrete floating foundations using BW Ideol’s Damping Pool® technology and is designed to serve as a catalyst for Scotland’s emerging floating wind supply chain.