Offshore wind developer Ocean Winds is joining Opportunity Cromarty Firth and supporting the port’s Green Freeport status bid.
Ocean Winds is currently operating, building and developing, three offshore wind projects in Moray Firth – the 950MW Moray, he 882MW Moray West and the 1GW Caledonia.
Having previously worked with Global Energy Group and Port of Cromarty Firth around the delivery of Moray East offshore wind farm, Ocean Winds has decided to support the Opportunity Cromarty Firth’s Green Freeport bid.
The developer requires high quality regional port infrastructure and local supply chains to support the operation and delivery of our Scottish projects.
“Such quality port infrastructure is at the core of the Opportunity Cromarty Firth consortium,” Ocean Winds stated.
Following from the successful delivery of Moray East, Moray West has confirmed that the Siemens Gamesa wind turbines will be pre-assembled and marshalled at Port of Nigg in the Cromarty Firth.
A successful outcome for the Opportunity Cromarty Firth bid will be a further springboard for future investment, maximising local benefits from the pipeline of renewable energy projects, Ocean Winds said.
Delivery of the Ocean Winds projects in the Moray Firth is enabled from ports with sufficient quayside depth for large vessels and quayside space for storage of the massive components required to construct the offshore wind farms.
All weather vessel access to the ports and proximity to the wind farm sites are also key and Cromarty Firth offers these features as well as good road and air links allow ready access for equipment and personnel.
Dan Finch, UK country manager for Ocean Winds, said: “I am delighted that we are strengthening our ties with the Cromarty Firth, which handled the large components of Moray East and are confirmed as marshalling the Moray West wind turbines.
“The newly revealed scale of the project pipeline in the UK will require additional port capacity and the Green Freeport model has the potential to attract new and increased manufacturing and fabrication capability to the Firth.
“Opportunity Cromarty Firth leading a Green Freeport bid is well placed to build on the earlier track record with the offshore energy and wind sectors.
“A Green Freeport centred on the Cromarty Firth can ensure the success of the region around the many opportunities that will emerge from the confirmed pipeline of major east coast offshore wind projects.”