MEMBER NEWS: Port of Aberdeen shares ambitious floating offshore wind plans with Energy Secretary

May 20, 2024
MEMBER NEWS: Port of Aberdeen shares ambitious floating offshore wind plans with Energy Secretary

Port of Aberdeen, the UK’s oldest existing business with the country’s newest harbour, shared its ambitious vision to become a national hub for floating offshore wind with Mairi McAllan MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Net Zero, during her visit today (20 May).

Touring the port’s £420 million Aberdeen South Harbour expansion, which officially opened in September 2023, Ms McAllan was presented with the port’s evolution into a world-class marine logistics hub for the offshore wind industry, alongside its ongoing support for North Sea oil and gas operations.

Ms McAllan was briefed on a planned £25 million project aimed at optimising South Harbour to meet the emerging demands of floating offshore wind, by deepening the eastern section of the basin. Port of Aberdeen is located within 100 nautical miles of 17GW of planned floating offshore wind, making it ideally suited to support ScotWind and INTOG floating developments.

This strategic upgrade will allow Port of Aberdeen and the region’s expert energy supply chain to manage hundreds of turbine integration and marshalling projects as well as longer term tow-in, tow-out major component exchange and maintenance.

The upgrade project recently progressed to Stage 2 ‘priority’ status in the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council’s Strategic Investment Model.

Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Net Zero Mairi McAllan said: “Scotland’s ports are crucial in realising our huge offshore wind potential and it’s fantastic to see Port of Aberdeen invest in Scotland’s future and our journey to Net Zero – further demonstrating the ambition of everyone involved in developing Scotland’s offshore wind sector.

“It will bring green jobs, skills and revenue to the Aberdeen area, while helping to ensure that our world-leading infrastructure facilities can deliver our offshore renewables revolution.”

Bob Sanguinetti, CEO, Port of Aberdeen, said: “Our significant investment in South Harbour means we are on the brink of becoming a national hub for floating offshore wind. With expansive laydown areas, the proposed ETZ on our doorstep, and 1.5km of quayside accommodating vessels up to 300 metres long, we are well-equipped for this next phase. Deepening the basin along Dunnottar Quay is the final step to becoming fully project ready.

“This will attract projects to the region on a scale not seen since the advent of the North Sea oil and gas industry. Government and industry investment in this crucial project will build on an existing strategic asset to deliver Scotland’s offshore wind ambitions.”

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AREG has played an important role in the growth of Scotland’s renewable energy sector, engaging the supply chain and developing the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. However, we are only at the very beginning of the transition that AREG was established to both lead and support so there are still opportunities for companies to get into the constantly evolving renewables supply chain. We look forward to continuing our work together as renewables builds on its place as Scotland’s main source of power, and as we seek to deliver real change in the crucial areas of heat and transport.

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Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has worked closely with AREG since its formation. The recent progress in the developments of offshore wind projects by Equinor and Vattenfall are as a result of the work of the group over many years. The north-east is known as the oil and gas capital of Europe. At the Chamber, we believe the region must evolve its position to being recognised as the energy capital. Whilst hydrocarbons will continue to be essential in driving our economy for years to come, the generation of renewable resources will play an increasingly important role in providing cost-effective power, innovative development and economic growth.

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Aberdeen City and Shire is emerging as a key location for renewables by successfully transferring its world-class oil and gas expertise into the sector and AREG has done much to advance this through a broad range of initiatives. It has acted as a catalyst in driving further investment in the local economy by engaging with companies, Government, public bodies and existing projects and we have been pleased to support their efforts. Scottish Enterprise will continue to engage with AREG as we increase Scotland’s use of renewable energy.

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