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As partners, Ocean Winds and Aker Offshore Wind have launched a ten-point
plan to create a skilled workforce and manufacturing opportunities through the
supply chain for generations to come.
At the heart of the plan is the establishment of a major manufacturing plant in
Scotland for the fabrication and assembly of giant steel floating structures,
which would then be installed in the deep waters of the North Sea.
It would be the largest industrial innovation in Scotland since the dawn of the
oil and gas sector, positioning Scotland as a global leader in clean energy.
Aker Offshore Wind and Ocean Winds are the majority owners of Principle Power
Inc (PPI), which has developed the steel-based floating platforms called
‘WindFloat’ - the world’s most proven floater technology - to harness this
energy.
The WindFloat technology is currently deployed in two operational projects, with
a total capacity of 75MW, and which utilise the largest wind turbines seen to
date on floating platforms.
The proven design means the consortium is uniquely ready to deploy commercial
-scale windfarms off Scotland’s coasts, driving down the cost of energy and
unlocking the resources of deeper waters.
The two partners are working with the National Manufacturing Institute of
Scotland and the University of Strathclyde to develop a 3D immersive
visualisation of the fabrication yard where the Windfloat platforms and turbines
would be built, which would become an industrial powerhouse of international
significance.
The design is set to be promoted across the world early enough to identify
manufacturers and select the final location in Scotland for the yard, and
fabricators interested in setting up in Scotland are also being invited into
early discussions.
This is well ahead of the offshore wind project phase and will ensure that
Scotland’s fabricators would then be ready for the implementation of the
‘Scotwind’ leasing programme.
The joint ScotWind bids from Ocean Winds and Aker Offshore Wind could generate
investment of the equivalent of up to £15 billion if the partnership is awarded
up to three sites generating 6GW of wind energy in total.
Through direct work and supply chain opportunities, each proposal is estimated
to generate more than 5,000 jobs and 200 apprenticeships in Scotland across all
project stages, helping to deliver Scotland’s ‘just transition’ from fossil
fuels, as well as mobilising the oil and gas and engineering supply chain by
providing major new opportunities.
There would also be extensive investment in Scotland’s existing ports and
harbours, as well as innovative new subsea technology, to deliver the companies’
ambitions for up to 6GW of energy production through floating offshore wind in
the Outer Moray Firth.
More than 30 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are now in place across the
supply chain in support of the bids and the early action needed.
There is a commitment to 60 percent local supply chain content from the UK, of
which 40 percent minimum content will come from Scotland, with early enabling
investment of tens of millions of pounds in building supply chain capability
within the first four years of winning a site.
The new manifesto on how to deliver Scotland’s green industrial revolution,
forms the basis of the Ocean Winds and Aker Offshore Wind bids through the
ScotWind leasing programme.
The combined 6GW bids across several sites would be by far the UK’s biggest wind
energy development and power millions of homes with renewable energy.
Floating offshore wind is the latest advent in renewable energy technology.
Around 80 percent of the world’s wind resources are in waters deeper than 60
metres and are unsuitable for fixed foundations.
“Ocean Winds and Aker Offshore Wind are committed to delivering a green
industrial revolution in Scotland with the jobs, manufacturing and supply chain
to support generations to come,” said Sian Lloyd-Rees, Managing Director of Aker
Offshore Wind UK.
"With Scotland’s long history in hydro, experience in onshore wind, and advances
in marine renewables, our next frontier is the development of floating offshore
wind, moving out to deeper waters and stronger, more consistent winds.
“It is time for innovation in the North Sea to lead the world once again - this
time to a net zero future. In our new manifesto, we have set out our vision on
the conditions to make the green industrial revolution a reality, and have
outlined how our expertise, leadership and investment commitment can achieve
this in Scotland.”
“A decade ago, we had a vision for the Moray Firth - the competitive, large
-scale deployment of offshore wind generation at 50m water depths, by
commercialising the jacket technology used in the two-turbine Beatrice
Demonstrator project,” said Dan Finch, Managing Director of Ocean Winds UK.
"We have successfully delivered that vision in Moray East - cutting the cost of
offshore wind generation by more than 50 per cent. Now we have a new goal. We
want to take our turbines out into the deep waters of the North Sea,
commercialising the WindFloat technology proven in demonstrator projects.
“We will create the opportunity for Scotland to lead in that next step of the
renewables revolution - the fabrication and assembly of steel floating
foundations and the manifesto we have published today explains how, with early
supply chain investment and intervention, we will turn that opportunity into a
new Scottish industry with global potential.”
ScotWind is the process currently being undertaken by Crown Estate Scotland, at
the direction of the Scottish Government, to grant property rights for the
seabed in Scottish waters for new commercial scale offshore wind projects.
Edinburgh-based Ocean Winds UK is the developer behind Scotland’s largest
windfarm, the 950MW Moray East windfarm, taking it from concept in 2009 to a
power-producing reality in 2021, and globally it is the world’s fourth largest
wind energy company.
The Aker group of companies have had an extensive presence in Scotland since the
1980s and have been a driver of maritime and industrial development - building
ships and designing, constructing and servicing offshore installations from
Glasgow to Aberdeen, on Scottish isles, in ports and in the ocean.
In 2020, Aker established Aker Offshore Wind so its maritime and offshore
experience and expertise could be fully applied to the transition to low-carbon
energy.
NOTES TO EDITORS
"Floating Offshore Wind: delivering a Green Industrial Revolution for Scotland
- a manifesto" can be accessed as an attachment.
The jobs and investment figures in this press release relate to aggregate
figures of a scenario of 6GW awarded capacity.
For further information, please contact:
Maria Lanza Knudsen, media contact, +47 48 44 24 26,
maria.knudsen@akeroffshorewind.com
Christian Yggeseth, investor contact, +47 915 10 000,
christian.yggeseth@akerhorizons.com
About Ocean Winds: www.oceanwinds.com
OW is a 50-50 offshore wind joint venture, owned and created by EDP Renewables
and ENGIE. Both companies believe that offshore wind energy has become an
essential part of the global energy transition, leading to rapid growth in the
sector and increased competitiveness. That is why they have grouped all their
existing and pipeline offshore portfolio into the new company to play a leading
role in the offshore market.
OW has 1.5GW in construction, 1GW in secured projects, and 3GW in advanced
development - a total of 5.5GW in total gross capacity, including the 950MW
Moray East (under construction) and Moray West (consented, awaiting a CfD) fixed
offshore wind projects in the UK. OW targets to reach 5-7 GW of projects in
operation or construction and 5-10 GW under advanced development by 2025.
OW, headquartered in Madrid, is currently present in 8 countries, primarily
targets markets in Europe, the United States and selected parts of Asia, from
where most of the growth is expected to come.
About Aker Offshore Wind: www.akeroffshorewind.com
Aker Offshore Wind is an offshore wind developer focused on assets in deep
waters and specialized on floating energy systems. With global operations, the
current portfolio consists of development projects and prospects located in
Asia, North America and Europe. Aker Offshore Wind effectively deploys cost
effective technologies from decades of offshore energy development. The company
is majority-owned by Aker Horizons, an investment company dedicated to creating
value and reducing emissions from renewable energy and decarbonisation
technologies. Aker Offshore Wind [AOW-ME] is listed on Euronext Growth in Oslo,
Norway.
About ScotWind
ScotWind Leasing is the process currently being undertaken by Crown Estate
Scotland, at the direction of the Scottish Government, to grant property rights
for the seabed in Scottish waters for new commercial scale offshore wind
projects. It is the first round of seabed leasing for offshore windfarms in
Scotland for a decade.
Other related announcements
EDP, one of the OW sponsor companies, has recently reaffirmed its role in the
UK’s energy transition with plans to invest up to £13bn by 2030. The
announcement made direct reference to the ScotWind process. For the avoidance of
doubt, announcement related to portfolio investments by EDP were estimated on a
different capacity scenario over a different time horizon, including onshore
wind, solar, and offshore wind assets.
https://www.edpr.com/en/news/2021/10/18/edp-reaffirms-its-role-uks-energy
-transition-plans-invest-ps13bn-2030
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