Scotland could be in line for almost 4,000 green jobs if proposals for a floating offshore wind farm are rubber stamped.
The Floating Energy Allyance – a partnership including BayWa r.e., Elicio and BW Ideol – has shared details about its bid in the ScotWind leasing process.
The trio are proposing to build a “unique” floating offshore wind farm in Scottish water in order to tap into the countries wind resources.
At the “heart” of the bid is a commitment to “maximising the opportunities” for the Scottish renewables supply chain.
All of the concrete foundations for the project would be manufactured at a port in Scotland, creating the “majority” of the 3,900 jobs that have bene promised at peak construction.
The employment projections have been developed by respected independent economic consultancy Biggar Economics.
Gordon MacDougall, managing director of Baywa r.e UK, said: “Floating Energy Allyance is focused on being at the vanguard of the development of floating wind in Scotland and fully committed to maximising the opportunities for the Scottish supply chain if successful in ScotWind.
“At the heart of that pledge is our commitment to the manufacture of 100 per cent of our concrete foundations at a port location in Scotland. This would drive the majority of the 3,900 jobs created by one of our projects at the peak of construction.
“We would also invest in a new Floating Energy Allyance Supply Chain Fund to support as many Scottish companies as possible to compete for work across all phases of our project.”
The Floating Energy Allyance has divulged the proposals ahead of the Floating Offshore Wind Conference in Aberdeen that gets underway tomorrow.
Renewable energy firm BayWa r.e., Belgian developer Elicio and floating wind technology designer BW Ideol will now wait with baited breath for the winners of ScotWind to be announced.
Crown Estate Scotland (CES), which manages the process, is due to announce which companies have secured the 15 plots of land early next year.
More than 70 companies are vying for space, and renewables experts have said CES faces a significant headache in differentiating between them.
Paul de la Gueriviere, chief executive of BW Ideol, said: “These figures reinforce the significant levels of employment that floating wind could create in Scotland, in particular when using BW Ideol’s proven and internationally recognized concrete floater.
“We have engaged with a number of established civil engineering and construction companies already present in the Scottish market; companies with a proven capability and expertise to manage local fabrication, and built up a significant supplier database through our engagement with the Scottish supply chain.
“We have also assessed a number of ports up and down the east coast which would be suitable for our manufacturing operation and are now progressing an option with our preferred location.”
It has been a bumper day for Scottish floating wind prospects after Aker Offshore wind and Ocean Winds shared details about their potential bid earlier.
The consortium is hoping to build a 6 gigawatt (GW) floating offshore wind farm in the Outer Moray Firth.
Alain Janssens, CEO of Elicio, commented: “We are under no illusions – we know that ScotWind is an incredibly competitive process, with 74 bids for 15 sites, reflecting the global interest in developing projects here in Scotland.
“However, we believe we have a compelling blend of experience and capability as we seek to develop the first commercial-scale floating wind projects in Scotland – and, potentially, a unique offering in term of the numbers of jobs our projects would create.”
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