Offshore wind subcontractor Sarens has announced it is opening a centre of excellence in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Sarens, a provider of specialist equipment and skilled workers for offshore wind farm projects, will invest £1.6m in the facility, described by the Scottish Secretary Ian Murray as “fantastic news”.
It will create 25 new jobs initially and boost the city’s heavy lifting and engineered transport capabilities to help support the growth of the UK’s offshore wind sector.
Sarens stated that a final decision to locate the centre in Aberdeen was heavily influenced by confirmation that Great British Energy, the UK Government’s new publicly owned clean energy company, will establish its headquarters in the city, coupled with investments by other key players.
Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Our decision to put Great British Energy’s roots down in Aberdeen is already paying dividends, with fresh investment and new jobs from Sarens PSG that will help ensure the city thrives as Scotland’s clean energy capital.”
Steve Clark (pictured), Managing Director of Sarens PSG, said: “The confirmation of Great British Energy’s HQ in Aberdeen is a game-changer for the city and the wider Scottish energy sector.
“Great British Energy’s presence in Aberdeen, along with the £400m South Harbour development and other major offshore wind initiatives, made Aberdeen the ideal location for our new Centre of Excellence.”
Murray said: “We are already seeing the benefits of Great British Energy’s HQ being in Aberdeen and this is more fantastic news for Aberdeen and the energy sector in Scotland.
“Sarens PSG creating new jobs focussed on renewables will help towards the UK Government’s target of ensuring that all electricity comes from zero-carbon generation by 2030.
“We want the full benefits from our energy sector to be felt by people and communities in Scotland and I am delighted to welcome 25 new jobs to the north east.”
Sarens’ new Centre of Excellence will be in Aberdeen’s Energy Transition Zone, at the Altens Industrial Estate, following the completed purchase from Forbes Homes, with the handover scheduled for later this month.
The site, expected to go live next year, will be equipped with heavy-duty capabilities such as inspection pits, brake testing equipment, and a wash bay to maximise uptime for Sarens PSG’s fleet of cranes and other heavy lifting equipment.
The centre will support the maintenance and repair of the company’s specialist fleet, providing in-house servicing.
Clark added: “This Centre of Excellence will be a world-class facility dedicated to supporting the delivery of offshore wind projects.
“It will provide us with a cutting-edge base for both engineering and operations, as well as a bespoke maintenance and training hub that ensures we remain at the forefront of the industry.”
Sarens has invested £12m in equipment and operational facilities.
The company is currently negotiating several multi-million-pound contracts and plans to expand in the coming years.
Sarens has been involved on the Moray West offshore wind farm project, where it successfully marshalled 62 of the largest monopiles ever handled in the UK, each weighing around 2000 tonnes.
The company is also involved in the construction of quay walls at the Port of Ardersier, which is set to become Scotland’s largest dedicated offshore wind deployment port.