Crown Estate Scotland is opening the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas offshore wind leasing process.
INTOG is described as a crucial step in lowering emissions from North Sea oil and gas production.
Energy Voice says offshore wind developers are being invited to put forward project proposals for the leasing of seabed areas which would help power North Sea oil and gas fields, in a bid to lower emissions and support innovation across both sectors.
As of today, the land and seabed manager will launch a two-week registration window. This will be followed by the opening of the official application window on August 24.
Applications can then be submitted until the window closes on November 18.
Separate to the ScotWind leasing process, INTOG is intended to support the emissions-reduction targets agreed last year between government and industry as part of the North Sea Transition Deal (NSTD).
Developers will be able to apply for rights to build small-scale offshore projects of less than 100 MW, with successful developments receiving leases of 25-50 years.
Final documents amended
Following a recent consultation Crown Estate Scotland said its final documents have been amended to support early project development and reflect feedback from potential builders, including extending option periods from five to seven years and doubling lease periods to 50 years for electrification projects.
Energy Voice states that awards will be determined on "a mixture of price bid and quality" and will be split into two pots - one for smaller-scale innovation projects, and one for projects linked to oil and gas infrastructure.
As with ScotWind, developers will also be required to submit a supply chain development statement before they can sign an option agreement. These statements set out how each developer intends to source products, materials, and labour to construct, erect, and service projects.
They also provide an overview of intended spending commitments, with ambitions on how much each project would spend - and where - under a best-case scenario, as well as other details such as people and skills.
Depending on the volume and quality of submissions, the agency expects that applicants will be notified of the leasing results by the end of March 2023, when exclusivity agreements will then be finalised.