The Scottish Government has announced a £1.8 million investment to support early-stage site investigation and design work for the proposed Deep Water South project at the Port of Stornoway, aiming to position the Outer Hebrides as a strategic hub for floating offshore wind.

The funding will help prepare Stornoway to play a key role in future offshore wind developments, supporting long-term skilled jobs and strengthening supply-chain businesses across the islands. The investment comes as the Scottish Government restores its offshore wind ambition to up to 40 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity by 2040—enough to supply the equivalent of around 45 million homes per year.

The revised target replaces Scotland’s previous offshore wind ambition of between 8 and 11 GW by 2030 and reflects strong private-sector interest shown during the ScotWind and Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) seabed leasing rounds.

Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, Gillian Martin, highlighted the economic significance of offshore wind for the country. She said the sector represents a major opportunity for Scotland, creating jobs and attracting substantial investment nationwide. Martin added that Stornoway’s location, skills base and existing port infrastructure make it vital to delivering the economic opportunities presented by the expanding offshore wind industry.

She also pointed to the proposed expansion of the Deep Water Terminal at the Port of Stornoway as a clear example of the sector’s growth and said increasing offshore wind capacity ambitions to 40 GW by 2040 reaffirms the government’s commitment to the industry, provides certainty for investors and supports Scotland’s national climate goals.

Alex Macleod, Chief Executive of the Port of Stornoway, described the investment as a significant step forward for both Stornoway and the Outer Hebrides. He said the Deep Water South project aims to unlock the next phase of opportunities by advancing offshore wind development, strengthening renewable energy infrastructure and ensuring the port is ready to play a leading role in Scotland’s energy transition.

Macleod added that the approval of support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will allow the project to move forward with detailed design and enabling works, reflecting strong confidence in the port’s long-term vision and its role within Scotland’s offshore wind sector. He said the joint investment with HIE underlines a commitment to delivering infrastructure that provides lasting economic benefits for the islands.

The Deep Water South project proposes the creation of a new terminal capable of accommodating a range of floating offshore wind vessels, as well as providing storage space to support large-scale construction and operational activities. The terminal will also be designed to enable the integration of wind turbine towers, nacelles and blades onto floating foundations, supporting the development of offshore renewable projects in the region.