SSE announces 100 new jobs as Montrose Port selected for Berwick Bank B offshore wind farm
John Swinney and Michael Shanks welcome new skilled offshore workers on Angus coast
Montrose Port has been selected as the site for an offshore wind farm in a move that will create 100 new jobs on the Angus coast.
First Minister John Swinney and UK government Energy Minister Michael Shanks welcomed the announcement by SSE on Monday.
In addition to 100 full time jobs over its 35-year life, including technicians and engineers, the 1.4GW Berwick Bank B wind farm will support 30 construction roles.
If fully delivered, operators believe 4.1GW Bewick Bank could become the world largest offshore wind farm.
The offshore wind jobs will be based at a new operational hub on Montrose Port’s South Harbour.
The construction jobs will be supported during the redevelopment of Montrose Port Authority’s existing offices, which will be repurposed for the new base.
Mr Swinney said: “SSE’s selection of the Port of Montrose as its preferred location for its operations and maintenance base for Berwick Bank further strengthens Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain and will create more jobs as well as investment in skills, infrastructure and local communities.
“Scotland’s ports are critical enablers of our offshore wind ambitions and key economic assets for surrounding communities, with the Port of Montrose set to become one of the world's largest offshore wind operations and maintenance hubs, supporting the Berwick Bank, Seagreen and Inch Cape offshore wind farms.
“Through our strategic investment in offshore wind, we are helping to develop the infrastructure, skills and supply chains needed to secure long-term economic growth and export opportunities from the global market.”
Located in the outer Firth of Forth, around 38km off Scotland's east coast, Berwick Bank B forms part of SSE's wider 4.1GW Berwick Bank Wind Farm project.
In January, SSE successfully secured a 20-year contract for 1.4GW of offshore wind generation from Berwick Bank B in Allocation Round 7 of the UK government's Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, which provides long-term revenue certainty for electricity generation projects.
SSE is progressing Berwick Bank B towards a Final Investment Decision (FID), expected next year.
If built to its full 4.1GW capacity, Berwick Bank could become the world's largest offshore wind farm, capable of generating enough homegrown electricity to power around 6.5 million UK homes annually and meet more than 6 per cent of current UK electricity demand.
Mr Shanks said: “This is a key milestone for Berwick Bank, which, when built in full, would be the world’s largest single offshore wind farm.
“SSE’s plans for Montrose Port show what the UK Government’s drive for clean power can deliver for Scotland: around 100 skilled jobs that could last for decades, investment in our ports and opportunities for local businesses.”
READ MORE: What will GB Energy actually do for Scotland's renewables future amid row over Aberdeen HQ jobs?
The decision to locate Berwick Bank B’s daily operations in Montrose marks another major milestone in the development of the wider Berwick Bank project.
Stuart Hood, director of offshore wind operations at SSE Renewables, said: “Scotland has built a world-class offshore wind industry, and today's announcement shows the economic opportunities that can follow when that expertise is matched with long-term investment.
“Our decision to choose Montrose as the preferred operations base for Berwick Bank B and create 100 new jobs reflects the strength of the port, its people and the local supply chain.
“SSE has built a strong relationship with Montrose Port over many years, and this latest long-term investment will help support the port's continued development as a leading offshore wind hub. This is clear evidence of the potential for the clean energy transition to drive skilled job creation and economic opportunity for communities up and down the country.”
The total number of jobs linked to Berwick Bank at Montrose Port could rise to almost 300 full-time operational roles if the project's remaining A and C phases also secure support through future Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions and reach Final Investment Decisions.
SSE’s selection of Montrose Port also builds on the successful relationship already established between the company and the port through its role as the operations base for Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm.
Tom Hutchison, CEO of Montrose Port Authority, said: “Our relationship with SSE is built on trust, delivery and years of working side by side.
“Being chosen for Berwick Bank B shows how far that partnership has come and how much SSE values what Montrose can offer.
“It will bring 100 skilled operational jobs to our region over the life of the wind farm and support a further 30 during construction of the base. That matters enormously to us as a trust port.
“We are proud to be a long-term partner to SSE and grateful for their continued confidence in Montrose.”
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.