Hexicon floater taps local talent

The developers of the 10MW Dounreay Trì floating wind farm have awarded Global Energy Group a construction contract for the project off the north coast of Scotland.

The works will be carried out at the Scottish company’s Nigg energy park facility in the Highlands, if it is approved by Marine Scotland and government ministers

A planning application for the project is scheduled to be processed by 31 March.

Global Energy Group executive vice president for capital projects Ian Cobban said fabrication works could start in the summer and last until the first half of 2018.

“The main floating structure will be around 190 metres by 100 metres including columns of 30-metre height, making it the largest structure to be loaded out of our facility in recent years,” he said.

The Dounreay Trì developers, which include Swedish company Hexicon, have also entered into an agreement with the Highland port of Scrabster, near Thurso, to service the facility.

If the two-turbine project goes ahead it will create seven full-time jobs and support other work through supply chain activities at the port.

WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: “It should be the ambition of every renewable energy project built in Scotland to ensure the maximum number of jobs are also created here.

“It is therefore good to know two Highland ports stand to benefit should this project be given the go ahead.”

Image: Hexicon