Qair Gains Full Ownership of Ayre Floating Wind Project
French company Qair has taken full control of the 1 GW Ayre floating wind project and withdrawn from the 1 GW Bowdun offshore wind farm located in Scotland. Both projects were initially developed by Thistle Wind Partners (TWP), a joint venture comprising Qair, Belgium’s DEME Concessions, and Aspiravi International.
Revised Partnership Structure
In the updated arrangement, DEME Concessions and Aspiravi will exit the Ayre project, allowing Qair to assume full ownership. Conversely, Qair has exited Bowdun, leaving DEME Concessions and Aspiravi as the sole owners of Bowdun. The companies confirm that all partners remain involved in TWP.
Project Background and Development Timeline
TWP began developing these offshore wind projects in January 2022 after securing seabed lease options from Crown Estate Scotland. The Ayre floating offshore wind farm is situated east of Orkney and northeast of Caithness. It is expected to deliver 1 GW of renewable energy to the national grid, supplying power for over 1.2 million households. Construction of Ayre is planned to start in 2030.
Planning Applications and Location Details
In August, TWP submitted an onshore planning application to the Highland Council for the Ayre project.
The Bowdun offshore wind farm, featuring fixed-bottom turbines, is located off the Aberdeenshire coast about 44 kilometres from Stonehaven, with construction expected to begin in 2031.
Bowdun’s New Initiative
Bowdun has recently launched a program to unlock a GBP 1 billion offshore wind opportunity aimed at supporting Scottish oil and gas supply chain companies in their transition to renewable energy.
“The Ayre floating offshore wind farm will contribute 1 GW of renewable energy to the national grid, enough to power more than 1.2 million households.”
Summary: Qair now fully owns the Ayre floating wind project while Bowdun is managed solely by DEME Concessions and Aspiravi, marking significant shifts in Scotland's offshore wind sector ahead of upcoming construction phases.