The Scottish government is hoping to boost the development of the country's offshore renewable energy sector with £6.5 million of funding for the construction of a new quayside at the Nigg Energy Park.
The funding was announced by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond as Nigg Energy Park's owners, Global Energy Group, signed a memorandum of understanding with Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd (MORL) to discuss Nigg's role in the development of the Moray Firth offshore wind farm.
The £40 million South Quay development at Nigg is a key element of Scotland's plans to develop the supply chain for the offshore renewables industry. The new quay would provide 1000 m of quayside space and help to meet the demand for large laydown areas and fabrication facilities for the offshore renewables sector.
MORL and Global Energy say they will discuss the possibility of using Nigg to build the 1116 MW offshore wind farm in the Outer Moray Firth. The new quay at Nigg could be used for fabrication of key components of the wind farm, including steel jacket foundations, towers and nacelles.
Dan Finch, project director of MORL said that the memorandum of understanding was "an important step forward" in the development of the Moray Firth wind farm, which was granted consent in March.
"[The MOU] covers a wide range of issues including Global Energy Group's facilities, their development plans for Nigg Energy Park, the potential involvement of Nigg Skills Academy and opportunities for local supply chain development," added Finch. "This is the start of a process which if appropriate, will allow MORL to include Nigg Energy Park and Global Energy Group's services as a preferred facility/subcontractor in our procurement activities."
The Moray Firth offshore wind farm is part of the UK's Round 3 offshore wind lease sites. It will consist of up to 62 turbines rated at 6 or 8 MW on each of three sites with water depths of 37-57m.
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