The Global Energy Group-owned Port of Nigg in north-east Scotland has been chosen as the staging site for the construction of the giant £2.6bn ($3.4bn) Moray East wind power project, striking a light for other former offshore oil fabrication yards in the region as the next wave of mega-developments take shape.
The £12m deal for the 950MW EDPR project will see the port handle the 103 jackets – 100 for the ordered MHI Vestas V164-9.5MW turbines along with three for substations – being delivered by lead contractor Deme Offshore under a turnkey contract. Fred Olsen Windcarrier was awarded the installation assignment for Moray East in May.
“The selection of Nigg as the staging port for the jackets comes after extensive engagement with the local supply chain and capitalises on the strengths of a history of offshore engineering,” said Moray East project director Marcel Sunier.
“Using Nigg for jackets complements our previous announcement of the Port of Cromarty Firth as an intermediate port for turbines. The installation of subsea substructures from Nigg combined with the installation of turbines from Invergordon shows how a complete onshore cluster to deliver the offshore works has been established in Easter Ross.
“I am delighted that Moray East is part of the facilitation of major investment plans – projected at over £100m across both ports – making Moray Firth facilities attractive and competitive for future developments as the offshore wind industry matures.”
Global Energy Group chairman Roy MacGregor added: “This award is a culmination of a lot of hard work from our people and I would like to thank them and Deme Offshore for their confidence and support in awarding us this contract.
“ Global Energy Group now have great experience in this work and this will further establish the Port of Nigg’s position as an important staging port supporting the offshore wind industry.”
EDPR holds a 43.3% stake in the Moray East with French utility Engie – with which the Portuguese utility earlier this month formed a joint venture for the global offshore wind market – having 23.3%, and 33.4% divided between the Mitsubishi-led power business platform Diamond Generating Europe, the Japanese conglomerate’s own finance vehicle Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance and a Dutch unit of Japanese utility Kansai Electric Power.
Moray East, currently one of the ten largest offshore wind farms under development off Europe, was successful in the UK’s 2017 CfD auction, with a £57.50/MWh strike price.
Current project timelines put start-up of the giant wind farm at 2021. Once at full power, Moray East will generate electricity for almost 1 million homes and save 1.4 million tonnes CO₂ equivalent annually.
EDPR and its partners are planning to develop the Moray West wind farm in 2023/24, subject to contract.
