The Port of Cromarty Firth is the “best location” for a marshalling and assembly hub for the offshore wind industry, according to a new report by Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Crown Estate Scotland.
The independent Port Enhancement Study has demonstrated that Cromarty Firth is the “ideal location to capitalise on the significant opportunities stemming from Scotland’s future offshore wind market” due to its existing port and laydown facilities, feasibility and capacity for expansion, and proximity to future development sites.
It comes after an earlier Crown Estate Scotland report published last year stated that port facilities at Invergordon and Nigg would be vital in helping to support a major expansion in the nation’s offshore wind industry.
In particular the report highlights the Cromarty Firth’s “long-term potential” to support the construction and deployment phases of future Scottish offshore development zones, including the latest ScotWind Leasing round, the majority of which are on its doorstep.
Such activity would create major supply chain and employment opportunities locally, while allowing Scotland to compete with existing UK and European facilities.
The report also emphasises the requirement for port alliances and clustering activity, in order to provide the offshore wind industry with “whole project solutions”.
Bob Buskie, chief executive of the Port of Cromarty Firth, said: “This report is great news for the Cromarty Firth and the Highlands.
“Scotland is on the cusp of a green energy revolution and with our leading port facilities, there is nowhere in the country better placed to take advantage of this seismic shift in energy generation.
“This has been built on a track record of success within the offshore energy industry stretching back more than 40 years.”
The port has recently invested more than £50 million in the facilities at Invergordon, which have played an integral role in the Beatrice, Moray East and Kincardine offshore wind developments.
He added: “Our facilities include significant open laydown capacity, deep-water berths and sheltered anchorages, suitable for accommodating the largest offshore wind components, such as turbine blades, tower sections and foundations, as well as the biggest offshore installation and support vessels.
“Being a Trust Port, where all of our profits are reinvested into the Port’s development, gives us huge scope to develop our facilities further and we are investigating new plans to substantially increase our capacity further.
“These fresh plans will further open up the Cromarty Firth to supporting a host of major windfarm projects earmarked in offshore areas both close to us geographically and further afield.”