Ocean Winds will use one its ScotWind bids to create a £300m ‘gateway’ for the establishment of steel fabrication industry for offshore wind in Scotland.
The joint venture between EDPR and ENGIE outlined proposals to make its bid for the 1.8GW Hebridean offshore windfarm in the ScotWind W1 plan site a ‘special case’ to facilitate a minimum £300m investment made by the company itself.
It is looking to attract a global steel fabricator to establish a quayside fabrication facility for large diameter steel turbine components at the site in Scotland.
The company said that the first order for such a facility, for the delivery of the Hebridean offshore project, will require more than 100 turbines and monopiles.
The £300m that is being offered by Ocean Winds is in addition to its previously announced bids for floating offshore projects.
Ocean Winds UK managing director Dan Finch said the Scottish Government has set clear ambitions for offshore wind on high skill, high value manufacturing jobs. By capping the seabed lease auction prices in Scotwind, they have matched that ambition with a financial commitment, he added.
“Money which would otherwise rest in Government coffers can be used by developers to make early investments in the supply chain,” said Finch.
“This recognises that Scotland has struggled to see the necessary level of investment to either attract new companies to the offshore wind supply chain or to make that supply chain competitive.
“Ocean Winds is ready for this challenge.”
The developers plans to construct the 1.8GW site using XXL monopiles, creating a major market opportunity for large diameter steel section, both for towers and foundations.
“As a result of two dynamics – the move to deeper water, and the move to larger turbines – a major market opportunity is emerging, both in Scotland and the rest of the UK for large diameter steel section, which cannot currently be manufactured in this country,” said Finch.
“This will provide a pipeline of future work for fabrication facilities whose establishment we will facilitate.
“With The Hebridean Offshore Windfarm we will add to that legacy with a competitive fabrication facility, in the right place, with the right facilities, making the right product to take best opportunity of the offshore wind market, regardless of how it develops.
“We just need the sea-bed to do it.”