On 9 September, a supply chain event was held to enable potential bidders for work on the 92.4MW European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC), also known as Aberdeen offshore wind farm, to meet main contractors and to discuss available work packages and local opportunities.
Tier One contractors, J Murphy & Sons, MHI Vestas and Boskalis, gave presentations and met with potential sub-contractors whilst Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) and Scottish Enterprise showcased how they can support businesses through the procurement process.
The event has been hailed as a “huge boost to the North-East” as it gathered 250 delegates from around 200 companies at Aberdeen’s Chester Hotel.
In the video, AREG’s Chief Operating Officer, Morag McCorkindale, the three Tier One contractors and Vattenfall’s Local Liaison Officer, Natalie Ghazi explain the importance of working with the local supply chain to deliver the project:
The first local contracts for the project, signed in September, went to three companies: Donside Safety, TVP Studios and Archer Marketing.
On 17 October, onshore construction works started on the project’s substation at Blackdog, Aberdeenshire. The works are due to be completed in early 2018, with offshore works in Aberdeen Bay scheduled to commence in late 2017.
The project is expected to generate first power in summer 2018.