Offshore Wind Is Coming, Scottish Ports Should Prepare – Report

Scotland should prioritise a significant expansion of its marshalling/assembly port capacity to tap into the potential created by the development of offshore wind in the years to come, according to a report launched by Crown Estate Scotland.

The report, titled Ports for offshore wind: A review of the net-zero opportunity for ports in Scotland comes just months after the launch of Scotland’s first offshore wind leasing round for a decade, ScotWind Leasing.

The research, carried out by technical consultants Arup, found that the build-out rate of offshore wind needed to meet Scotland’s net-zero target may not be achievable without a major expansion of the marshalling/assembly capacity.

The report recommends a number of steps that could be taken to maximise the future potential of Scottish ports to host the major offshore wind projects set to come to Scotland.

These steps, if applied successfully, could ensure that Scotland’s ports are ideally placed to support the major expansion of offshore wind in Scotland, and help the country take a major stride towards net-zero, Crown Estate Scotland said.

The recommendations of the report include taking steps to increase the port capacity that is suitable for large scale offshore wind developments; establishing a national strategic approach to how offshore wind port facilities are developed; and developing new optimal operation & maintenance facilities which open up the right opportunities for Scotland’s ports.

“This is an important piece of work, which should act as a roadmap for both public and private sectors in Scotland to ensure that our ports and offshore wind sectors collaborate effectively and maximise the potential that offshore wind can bring to communities,” Director of Marine for Crown Estate Scotland, Colin Palmer, said.

“Scotland has fantastic port facilities as well as some of the best offshore energy resources in the world; making sure these two are successfully aligned can help us take a giant leap towards our Net Zero commitments, and help to build a green economic recovery for Scotland.”