A report launched today by Crown Estate Scotland shows how Scotland’s ports and harbours can tap into the huge potential created by the development of offshore wind in the years to come.
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, which is set to kick start Scotland’s new generation of offshore wind farms and build new demand for operations and maintenance facilities to support major projects.
The research, carried out by leading technical consultants Arup, found that while Scotland already has a strong and thriving ports sector, there are various 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.
The recommendations of the report include:
Taking steps to increase the port capacity that is suitable for large scale offshore wind developments
Establish a national strategic approach to how offshore wind port facilities are developed
Develop new optimal operation & maintenance facilities which open up the right opportunities for Scotland’s ports
Director of Marine for Crown Estate Scotland, Colin Palmer, said:
“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.
“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.”
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said:
“Scotland is already a world-leading destination for the development of low carbon energy and this study strengthens our status as a hub for global players.
“It also demonstrates the manufacturing and supply chain capabilities in Scotland that will help make a significant contribution to meeting our world-leading climate change targets and support the creation of green jobs.
“Encouraging cross-sectoral collaborations in areas like energy and transport exemplify the opportunities available through our ‘Blue Economy’ model, and the important role it will play in both our economic recovery from coronavirus and our path towards net-zero.”
