Floating wind innovation hub set for Scottish oil capital with eye on 'unprecedented opportunity'
First minister announces Aberdeen to become home to UK's national sector centre following $12m investment by city's Energy Transition Zone operator and Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
Scottish offshore oil & gas capital Aberdeen is to become home to a national floating wind innovation centre to be built within the city’s Energy Transition Zone (ETZ) following £9m ($12m) investment by ETZ Ltd, the company running the landmark development project, and government-industry body the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult.
The UK’s National Floating Wind Innovation Centre (NFWIC), which will be located at the Altens industrial estate where many of the stalwart North Sea oil operators and contractors have their bases, will be launched with a focus on digital simulation and modelling of floating structures and move on to concentrate on the validation of the key components, including moorings and anchors, dynamic cables and electrical systems.
“The ETZ, backed by £26m in Scottish government funding, will contribute to the north-east [of Scotland] being ideally placed to make the most of the anticipated increase in demand for offshore wind as we transition to net zero,” said Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
“The new NFWIC is a world-first, and it marks a major step in our collective efforts to capitalise on the huge opportunity that floating wind presents. Ensuring our transition to net zero is fair, just, and delivers sustainable jobs and growth is at the heart of our national strategy for economic transformation.
“As well as supporting the acceleration of offshore wind, ETZ Ltd will be a catalyst for high-value manufacturing, research, development and the deployment of new energy technologies, such as green and blue hydrogen and carbon capture and storage. These will be critical to developing a long-term international industry base that delivers sustainable jobs and growth for the north-east,” said Sturgeon.
ORE Catapult CEO Andrew Jamieson said: “The development of floating wind is one of the biggest opportunities in the UK today to secure real global leadership. Working in collaboration with industry, government and other stakeholders, we can grasp the unprecedented opportunity for UK technology and process innovation to solve challenges such as faster consenting and enhanced grid solutions, driving economic and supply chain growth and job creation as we strive to achieve net zero. “
ETZ Ltd chairman Sir Ian Wood said: “The north-east of Scotland is one of the most attractive locations for investment in low carbon and net zero technologies and the ETZ will be at the very heart of our efforts to reposition this region as the net zero energy capital of Europe.
“Crown Estate Scotland’s decision to approve developments that will generate 24.8GW of offshore wind power is hugely encouraging and it’s great to see the Scottish government’s recognition of the sheer scale of the opportunity before us.
“Some 18GW of power announced, representing over 70% of all successful bids, are within 100 nautical miles of Aberdeen and therefore this region is ideally placed to become a globally recognised hub supporting the high value manufacturing, operations and maintenance and innovation required to deliver these developments at pace.”