Bussiness
Scottish ports form alliance to seize offshore wind opportunity
Ports from across Scotland have today launched the Scottish Offshore Wind Ports Alliance (SOWPA) – a forum targeted at optimising the opportunities from offshore wind.
The alliance is developing opportunities to enhance regional competitiveness, drive efficiencies and fast-track the required expertise to support the sector.
This will be achieved by optimising large-scale operations and addressing common industry challenges through knowledge sharing and collaboration. Collectively, the aim is to improve regional competitiveness and enhance the value proposition in support of ScotWind, INTOG and future offshore wind leasing rounds.
Iain Sinclair, executive director at Global Energy Group, said: “Today’s announcement demonstrates that ports are motivated to take the initiative, work proactively and diligently together, and align with the whole offshore wind ecosystem, to maximise the localisation of the supply chain requirements.
“SOWPA’s collective capability, knowledge and expertise is a world leading value proposition – we have a willingness and appetite to enhance our competitiveness, address supply chain challenges and deliver against Scotland and the UK’s offshore wind ambitions.
“The crucial role of Scotland’s Green Freeports also cannot be understated,“ he continued, adding: “They will be essential in attracting inward investment and paving the way for new supply chain opportunities, which will have a catalytic effect on the pace of deployment.”
Minister for Climate Action Gillian Martin said: “Scotland’s ports are crucial in helping unlock our huge offshore wind potential, and private investment – stimulated by up to £500m of Scottish Government backing over the next five years – will be critical to the continued growth of the sector.
“Partners across the sector and wider supply chain have already shown a strong appetite to take a strategic and collaborative approach to delivering investment in ports, manufacturing and fabrication, and the establishment of the Offshore Wind Ports Alliance will ensure that, collectively, our world-leading infrastructure facilities are optimised to deliver our offshore renewables revolution.”
With ambitions to develop 30GW of offshore wind capacity over the next 10 years through the ScotWind leasing round, the future project pipeline will put substantial pressure on Scottish port capacity due to the significant infrastructure requirements needed to support its efficient deployment, in addition to the ambition to establish new critical manufacturing activities.
Claire Mack, chief executive at Scottish Renewables, said: “The global opportunity in offshore wind is huge, alongside attracting investment to Scotland this alliance will give us the ability to share experiences and expertise meaning our offer to industry is truly excellent.
“We’ve already seen multi-millions of pounds in private sector investment go towards creating world-class facilities which will provide the cornerstone to industrial growth zones in and around our ports for decades to come.”
Richard Ballantyne, chief executive of the British Ports Association, added: “The energy transition represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Scotland and the ports industry wants to be pivotal in its delivery.
“This new alliance will have an important role and feed into the debate about how our sector helps deliver the country’s offshore wind aspirations and how we ensure that energy developers and supply chain operators base their activities and jobs in our ports and coastal regions so that we see the all the economic benefits in this revolution.”
The new SOWPA website features up to date technical data on the port facilities, including an overview of both the existing and planned infrastructure developments. This will provide project developers and potential inward investors with information on the current and future landscape of Scotland’s offshore wind port capacity and capabilities.
The following port facilities are founding members of SOWPA:
- Kishorn Port.
- Port of Nigg.
- Lerwick Harbour.
- Ardersier Port.
- Orkney Future Ports – Orkney Harbour Authority.
- Port of Cromarty Firth.
- Stornoway Port.
- Port of Montrose.
- Port of Aberdeen.
- Fraserburgh Harbour.
- Port of Inverness.
- Peterhead Port Authority.
- Scrabster Harbour.
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