The Pentland Floating Offshore Wind Farm (PFOWF) project has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Scrabster Harbour Trust.
The MoU covers cooperation on the development of operations and maintenance (O&M) requirements, services and facilities as well as collaborative investigation into the potential for construction support services and major component change-out for floating wind turbines.
The agreement builds on work secured by Scrabster Harbour throughout the project’s early stages, including vessel mobilisation and demobilisation for geophysical and geotechnical surveys and use of the port’s facilities during commissioning and deployment of wind measurement equipment over 2020.
PFOEF will initially consist of a single 8.6MW turbine demonstrator that will “showcase new floating wind technology with a high potential for localisation in Scotland”, with deployment expected in 2024.
The second stage is a larger array project, of up to 10 turbines, which will be collectively capable of generating up to 100MW.
Construction of the array is expected to commence in 2024 and it will be operational in 2026.
Upon completion, the array will be the largest of its kind in the world.
The project announcement follows the recent confirmation that CIP (through one of its funds) has entered the ScotWind process as part of a consortium with SSE Renewables and Marubeni Corporation.
Copenhagen Offshore Partners (COP) is managing PFOWF’s development activities on behalf of Highland Wind Limited.
Highland Wind is majority owned by fund management company Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), through one of its funds.
Richard Copeland, project director at COP UK, said: “Scrabster is ideally positioned to support the Pentland project throughout its lifetime and the recent investments, such as the St Ola Pier, which was officially opened last week, and deep-water basin, only enhance that position.”
Sandy Mackie, Scrabster Harbour Trust manager, added: “The Pentland project is already bringing work to Scrabster and we are pleased to build on that working relationship towards Scrabster becoming the O&M facility for the project.
“As well as bringing direct opportunities to the port and wider area, Pentland will also provide the ideal opportunity to further demonstrate our capabilities and readiness for supporting offshore wind, such as the larger scale projects to be deployed through ScotWind.”
PFOWF is also undertaking a local supply chain and socioeconomic study with the University of Highlands and Islands and Xodus which will assess the benefits that development at Scrabster will bring to the local area.
The PFOWF development is planned over two stages.
The three companies will combine their local experience and global expertise to help Scotland deliver 10GW of new offshore wind projects.