Forth Ports has unveiled proposals for the creation of Scotland’s largest renewable energy hub on a 71-hectare site at the Port of Leith.
The £40m private investment will see the creation of a bespoke, riverside marine berth capable of accommodating the world’s largest offshore wind installation vessels.
Forth Ports chief executive Charles Hammond described the investment as a “pump-priming investment in logistics and marine infrastructure at the Port of Leith as we harness Scotland’s natural resources for future generations”.
The investment also has the potential to play a significant part in the operator’s forthcoming Firth of Forth Green Port bid, he said.
The facility will feature a heavy lift capability of up to 100 tonnes per square metre, backed up by 14 hectares of adjacent land for logistics and marshalling.
This will be supplemented by the upgrading of a 57-hectare cargo handling site to accommodate lay down, assembly, supply chain and manufacturing opportunities.
The total area is equivalent to around 100 full size football pitches.
The Port of Leith Renewable Energy Hub has the potential to make a “major contribution” to Scotland achieving its 2045 net zero greenhouse gases target, secure the Firth of Forth as the “driver for Scotland’s green energy transition” as well as upport up to 1000 high quality, long term direct jobs and about 2000 indirect jobs.
Hammond said: “We are committed to playing a significant role in the renewable energy sector and, through that, Scotland’s energy transition to net zero as we also tackle the challenges of Covid-19 recovery and economic regeneration.
“Leith’s proximity to the North Sea, which is set to become home to many more offshore wind developments, coupled with the natural deep waters of the Firth of Forth, makes this an ideal location to support not only those developments already planned, but the pipeline of projects that are sure to follow.
“That’s why we’re prepared to invest our land, our expertise and our shareholders’ money to further build and strengthen Scotland’s renewables supply chain to deliver new long-term jobs. Forth Ports is committed to both help make Scotland’s renewables future a reality and help it meet its carbon reduction targets.”
Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport Michael Matheson said: “The Scottish Government has set ambitious targets to increase offshore wind capacity to 11GW of energy installed by 2030 – enough to power more than eight million homes.
“This commitment, which will support our transition to a net-zero economy by 2045, capitalises on the fact that Scotland’s seas have some of the best offshore wind resources in the world.
“This significant investment from Forth Ports to develop the Port of Leith places them in an ideal position to harness the offshore wind opportunities in the North Sea, creating good green jobs and supporting a just transition to net-zero – not just for the city of Edinburgh but the wider area and beyond.”
The wholly private sector investment of £40m is backed by Forth Ports’ shareholders, in support of the industrial regeneration of the Port of Leith and reinforcing the role of the Firth of Forth in Scotland’s energy transition, the operator said and has forecasted offshore wind alone has the potential to create enough work for this renewables hub for the next 30 years.