OREANDA-NEWS. Lord Dunlop, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, 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 ?680m.

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.

The minister heard how Beatrice is one of Scotland’s largest private infrastructure projects and will see 890 jobs during each year of construction.   

He said he was delighted the new windfarm would provide a major boost for the Scottish and UK economies.  He said: “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.”

Paul Cooley, Director of Generation Development at SSE, stated: “The project will provide almost 900 jobs and up to GBP 680m of UK contracts and we are proud to progress such a flagship project for the Scottish offshore wind industry and the UK’s skilled supply chain. It shows Beatrice will play its part in investing in the critical energy infrastructure we all need.

“We are delighted to welcome Lord Dunlop here to Nigg Energy Park which will play a vital role in delivering Beatrice.” 

Global’s Business Development Director for Renewables, Stephen Thompson also thanked the Minister for the visit.  He said: “We really appreciated Lord Dunlop taking the time to visit Nigg Energy Park and gain first hand information on the BOWL project and its significance to the development of offshore wind in this country. 

“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.”

The GBP 2.6bn Beatrice project was given the green light for construction after reaching Financial Close in May 2016.  A number of significant contracts with UK suppliers have been announced since then.

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.  

Beatrice is expected to bring a range of socio-economic benefits to the local, regional, Scottish and UK economies during both the construction and operational phases. Expected opportunities include job creation, skills training, investment in Scottish ports and harbours, supply chain opportunities and community benefit funding.