Our Impact / Planning & consents

Shaping Pentland through evidence

Group 950

Planning, consultation, environmental assessment and ongoing survey work have played an important role in shaping the Pentland project.

As the project has progressed, new evidence and developments in project design have enabled the proposals to be refined while maintaining Pentland’s planned generating capacity of around 100MW.

Offshore consents

Pentland’s offshore consents application was approved by Scottish Ministers in June 2023, allowing construction and operation of the project with a capacity of around 100MW.

Ongoing survey work and advances in project design subsequently enabled the offshore proposals to be refined.

Changes to Pentland’s offshore consents were approved in 2024, allowing the project to use fewer turbines within a smaller area while maintaining the same generating capacity.

View offshore consent documents

Onshore planning

Planning permission in principle for Pentland’s onshore infrastructure was granted by The Highland Council in January 2023.

The onshore proposals include the project’s landfall, cable infrastructure, substation and connection into the electricity network at Dounreay

Supporting application documents are available through Pentland’s Document Library and The Highland Council’s Consent Portal.

View onshore planning documents

Project timeline

2026

Contract for Difference secured

2025

New project investment announced

2024

Offshore consent changes approved

Jun 2023

Offshore consents approved

Jan 2023

Onshore planning permission in principle granted