International conglomerate Siemens has announced the completion and planned sail out of huge containers to a mammoth Moray Firth project site.
The newly-built containers are destined for the Moray East Offshore Wind Farm project, where they will transport large sections of high voltage equipment between shore and the wind site.
Granted consent in 2014, the 100-turbine wind farm will be built in partnership between four foreign wind developers.
The project is 33.3% owned by EDP Renewables, Mistubishi subsidiary DGE holds 33.4%, French firm Engie holds 23.3% and the remaining 10% stake is owned by China Three Gorges.
The development is expected to power more than 950,00 homes.
Local firms SME engineering firm JGC Engineering and Technical Services finalised work on the containers which will be fitted with either high voltage transmission equipment or electrical monitoring and control equipment for the three offshore substation platforms.
JGC fabricated eight of 12 containers at its site in Thurso and have also supported Siemens with other offshore projects in the UK.
Siemens claim the containers’ length, height and volume are “larger than an Airbus A380 aircraft”.
Sarah Graham, Transmission Infrastructure package manager for Moray East, said:
“The completion of these containers is the first major milestone in the construction of Moray East’s Offshore transmission infrastructure and has set a high standard for quality and safety that we will strive to build on as we move into the next stage of fabrication for the offshore substation platforms.
“We are really pleased to celebrate this milestone with Siemens and JGC as we move one step closer to completing Scotland’s largest offshore windfarm.”
From Thurso, the containers will make their way to Fabricom-Smulders in Belgium where the substation equipment will be installed inside.
The three platforms will be sailed out to their locations in the Moray Firth in summer 2020.
Multi-million-pound contracts have also been awarded to Scottish firms for civil construction work on the project.
Mark Pilling, managing director, EPC, Siemens Transmission and Distribution, added: “The containers are the heart of the substation, providing the intelligence and safety equipment to run the wind farm effectively.
“This is the first of many milestones we will achieve on this project to provide low cost, low carbon electricity.
“We are delighted to have achieved this important milestone and to celebrate the event with those who have worked so hard to get everything ready on time.”
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