Our UK offshore energy experts conducted and delivered key environmental studies to support Thistle Wind Partners (TWP) and Qair in the early development phase of the Ayre Offshore Wind Farm (OWF) project.
The Ayre OWF is a major renewable project being developed off the coast in Scotland and is expected to deliver up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of renewable energy to the national grid, providing enough electricity to power the equivalent of 1.2 million households.
Initially led by TWP, Qair acquired 100% of Ayre OWF in November 2025, with TWP continuing to provide development support.
Our support to TWP
TWP contracted Tetra Tech to deliver the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) for their offshore application submitted in November 2025, a major milestone in the project’s development.
Tetra Tech’s experts conducted baseline characterisation surveys and prepared technical reports and chapters on specialised topics, such as offshore ornithology, marine mammals, benthic ecology, shipping and navigation, and commercial fisheries. The offshore application is currently being considered by the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate Licensing Operations Team, and our team will continue to provide support during the determination phase. Tetra Tech also supported Ayre’s onshore planning application, which was submitted in August 2025, and approved in March 2026.
It has been a fantastic journey working with TWP and Qair on the Ayre Project, from preparations for the ScotWind leasing round through to the application submission and across our broad range of specialist technical topic reports. We look forward to continuing our work with TWP and Qair through the determination phase.
Nicola Simpson, Technical Director, Marine Consenting and Environment
About the ScotWind process
The NE2 Plan Option area, where the Ayre OWF is located, was awarded to TWP during the ScotWind leasing round after appraisal of the Plan Option areas by our team. ScotWind was launched to increase offshore wind capacity in support of the Scottish Government’s 2045 Net Zero target. The project will have additional socioeconomic benefits, such as the creation of Scottish jobs and investment, and development of the renewable energy supply chain.
A track record of environmental compliance expertise for ScotWind
Tetra Tech has a proven track record leading and delivering complex EIAs and HRAs for major infrastructure projects and providing post application support. We have supported a number of Scotland’s major proposed fixed foundation and floating offshore wind developments, including the Berwick Bank and Ossian Offshore Wind Farms. For ScotWind, we have been, or are currently, the EIA/HRA lead on five of the current 19 planned projects.
Tetra Tech has been a valued partner on the Ayre Offshore Wind Farm, providing environmental expertise from early development through to submission of the offshore consenting application. Their coordinated approach across the EIA and HRA, supported by specialist surveys and technical reporting, has been instrumental in achieving this milestone, and we welcome their continued support through the determination phase.
Learn more about our offshore energy services or contact our team.