Scottish ports have formed an alliance to optimise the opportunities from offshore wind.
The Scottish Offshore Wind Ports Alliance (SOWPA) is formed by sites that have manufacturing and fabrication, marshalling, assembly, and operations & maintenance experience.
Members include Port of Nigg, Ardersier, Port of Cromarty Firth, Port of Aberdeen and Stornoway.
The alliance is actively developing opportunities to enhance regional competitiveness, drive efficiencies and fast-track the required expertise to support the UK’s burgeoning offshore wind industry, it said.
This will be achieved by optimising large-scale operations and addressing common & complex industry challenges through knowledge sharing and collaboration, the alliance added.
Global Energy Group executive director Iain Sinclair said: “It is widely recognised that ports have a critical enabling role in the industrialisation and deployment of offshore wind in the UK.
“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.”
Minister for Climate Action Gillian Martin added: “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.”