Marram Wind isn’t just another offshore wind farm. At 3,000 MW planned capacity across 684 square kilometres of the North Sea, this floating project represents a serious stride towards unlocking deeper, wind-rich waters that have until now remained technologically or economically out of reach. Situated 77 km from the Scottish coastline, Marram is positioned well beyond traditional fixed-bottom developments, leveraging its floating design to capture high wind speeds in an area with favourable seabed and wave conditions.
The site benefits from a host of ideal natural characteristics. With peak wind speeds reaching 30 m/s at 100 metres above sea level and significant wave heights up to 7.5 metres, Marram is perfectly placed to generate consistent, high-yield electricity. Water depths range between 86 and 119 metres, making it an ideal candidate for floating structures rather than fixed-bottom turbines. This depth unlocks massive new energy zones in the UK’s offshore portfolio, zones historically underutilised due to technological constraints.
Geologically, the seabed at Marram Wind is robust and diverse, layered with soft to very stiff clays, silts, sands and glaciomarine deposits. The surficial Swatchway formation and deeper Coal Pit and Fisher layers provide favourable conditions for suction and driven pile anchors, the two preferred mooring solutions identified by marine engineering consultancy RYDER. These geotechnical conditions significantly reduce foundation complexity and installation risk, increasing the economic viability of the site.
What makes Marram Wind particularly attractive for investors is the maturity of its marine environment assessment. RYDER’s detailed Marine Intelligence Brief confirms that the site is clear of marine protected areas and critical fishing zones, and it does not intersect any major shipping lanes. Limited fishing and cargoship activity inside the zone reduces the likelihood of stakeholder conflict and eases regulatory approvals. With minimal anthropogenic interference and no notable seismic risks in the vicinity, Marram stands out as a low-obstruction, high-potential development.
Infrastructure in the surrounding area, particularly existing pipelines, oil fields, and carbon capture projects, underscores Marram Wind’s strategic value in an integrated North Sea energy network. It neighbours assets like the Golden Eagle oil pipeline and the Acorn Carbon Capture site, setting the stage for potential hybrid energy systems and futureproofing the project against shifting energy demands.
RYDER’s analysis also highlighted scalability as a critical factor. While floating structures are inherently more complex than fixed ones, the recommendations favour mooring solutions that support anchor sharing and optimised layout, helping control both capital and maintenance expenditures. Suction anchors in particular offer a compelling balance between performance, cost and installability in the Marram Wind seabed context.
Floating offshore wind is gaining global momentum, but few projects match the scope and readiness of Marram Wind. Backed by Shell and ScottishPower Renewables, two companies with deep financial and technical resources, Marram is set to become a blueprint for how floating wind farms can operate at scale in European waters.
The upcoming phases, surveying, foundation design, cable planning, and port infrastructure development, will be closely watched by institutional investors and clean energy funds. As the UK aims to quadruple offshore wind capacity by 2030, Marram Wind is positioned to be a pivotal contributor to national targets and global decarbonisation goals.
Marram Wind is a joint venture between Shell and ScottishPower Renewables to develop a 3,000 MW floating offshore wind farm in the North Sea, located 77 km from the Scottish coast. It will feature between 126 and 225 turbines and is designed to harness strong wind resources in deep water using advanced floating structures.
Tekmar Group plc (LON:TGP) vision is to be the leading provider of technology and services to the global offshore energy markets. The Group’s three primary operating companies are RYDER, Tekmar Energy and Pipeshield International.
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