Buchan Offshore Wind has submitted an onshore planning application to Aberdeenshire Council for the electrical infrastructure needed to connect its multi-billion pound floating wind project to the national grid.

The farm, located 75 km north-east of Fraserburgh, has an anticipated capacity of close to 1GW (one gigawatt) and a connection date of 2033.

The application details the proposed connection, which includes a cable landfall on the Aberdeenshire coast at Rattray Head and an underground cable route extending around 20 km south to a new substation near the existing Peterhead Substation.

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Project Director Clare Lavelle emphasised the significance of the onshore connection, stating it is a "vital component" that will allow the export of clean electricity, capable of powering around a million homes. She confirmed that all cables would be underground, with the land reinstated after installation.

The development is expected to inject more than £900 million into Scotland's manufacturing sector and supply chain, creating around 2,900 jobs in Scotland at the peak of construction and close to 300 ongoing jobs during operation. The project has chosen BW Ideol's patented Damping Pool floating substructure and is working to establish a manufacturing centre at the Ardersier Energy Transition Facility.

Ms Lavelle noted that securing timely onshore and offshore consents is "critical to unlocking the significant inward investment." The project's offshore consent application was submitted to Scottish Ministers earlier this year.

The onshore application follows three years of community engagement, which included nine public events. The application is available for public viewing at Buchan House in Peterhead and Fraserburgh Library.