Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland Lord Andrew Dunlop visited Nigg Energy Park this week to hear how Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd (BOWL) will help boost the local and national economy to the tune of GBP 680 million, SSE reports.
The UK minister was welcomed by representatives from BOWL and Global Energy Group, the owners of Nigg Energy Park. BOWL is building the 588MW 84 turbine offshore windfarm in the Moray Firth. SSE owns 40% of the joint venture with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (35%) and SDIC (25%).
A recently signed agreement between Beatrice’s turbine supplier Siemens and Global Energy Group will see the Nigg Energy Park and the Port of Nigg utilised as the main location for offshore construction and marshalling works for Beatrice.
“I was really pleased to have the opportunity to visit the Port of Nigg site. The Beatrice offshore wind farm will make a huge contribution to the country’s energy needs, as well as driving technological developments in clean energy. The site is also an important local employer, offering skilled jobs in a remote part of Scotland,” Lord Dunlop said.
The minister heard how Beatrice is one of Scotland’s largest private infrastructure projects and will see 890 jobs during each year of construction.
“With over £45 million invested in Nigg, with additional deep water quayside space, large fabrication facilities and lay down areas, Lord Dunlop was able to see we have the expertise in our people and world class facilities to support SSE and Siemens in the BOWL project and with any other opportunities to support the emerging renewables industry,” Global’s Business Development Director for Renewables, Stephen Thompson, said.
The GBP 2.6bn Beatrice project was given the green light for construction after reaching Financial Close in May 2016.
Work for the grid connection at Blackhillock in Moray has already commenced and will get underway for the operations and maintenance facility in Wick in the coming months. Offshore construction will begin in 2017. The wind farm is expected to become fully operational in 2019.