Energy, enterprise and tourism minister Fergus Ewing marked a milestone in Scotland’s offshore renewables sector during a visit to Methil.
Mr Ewing officially opened Energy Park Fife’s new access road and heard about progress being made in developing offshore wind energy technology at the Levenmouth docks.
He said: ”I was delighted to open the new access road to Energy Park Fife. The road opens up more areas of the park and increases the appeal to potential investors.
”It’s great to see the progress at the park and to hear about the work that is going on there, and I was interested to visit Burntisland Fabrication Ltd, meet the staff and learn more about their work serving the offshore wind sector.
”There is no doubt that the Energy Park Fife, with its resources and location, has the potential to play a leading role in the development of offshore wind in Scotland in the coming years as these offshore wind projects move into the build and deployment phase.”
He also unveiled a viewing platform which has been built for educational purposes and as an attraction for coastal path visitors.
Pupils from Aberhill Primary were first to try out the viewing area.
Since acquiring the former rig yard at Methil docks in 2005, Scottish Enterprise in conjunction with Fife Council has invested almost £17 million in the 134-acre site.
The work has included an upgrade of the quayside, dredging the sea bed, providing utilities, enhancing coastal defences and refurbishing existing buildings.
Scottish Enterprise’s managing director of operations, Paul Lewis, accompanied Mr Ewing on the visit.
He said: ”Our investment in Energy Park Fife will help unlock the full potential of the park and develop it into a world-class business location for companies in the renewable sector to invest and grow, creating new jobs and investment for Scotland.
“With its extensive acreage and deep water load-out facilities, and its close proximity to the offshore windfarm leasing sites in the North Sea, it is perfectly placed to service the European offshore wind market.”
Councillor Tony Martin, who chairs the council’s enterprise, environment and transportation committee, added: ”Fife Council is delighted to see continued progress being made at Energy Park Fife thanks to the commitment shown by the council, the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise.
”The current phase of investment and the opening of the new access road provide further evidence of our shared commitment to the project. The council’s investment of nearly £6 million is helping to secure the success and long term benefits for Levenmouth, for Fife and for Scotland.
”In order to take investment in the park to the next level, the Scottish Government has recently approved our first stage Tax Increment Finance Scheme funding application, which could deliver an additional £15 to £17 million in improvements to the site. This investment will further increase Methil’s chances of attracting large scale inward investment projects and the council is working up a full business case submission.”
During his tour, Mr Ewing visited Burntisland Fabrication Ltd (BiFab), the UK’s leading manufacturer of jacket sub-structures for the offshore wind industry, to hear first hand its intentions to further expand within the site and strengthen its position in the offshore wind market.
BiFab managing director John Robertson added: ”We are very pleased with the proactive approach in developing Energy Park Fife. This facility has the potential to be one of the best manufacturing facilities in Europe creating hundreds of jobs.
”Our experience in the oil and gas sector has helped us to diversify into the renewable sector including wind, wave and tidal, and we plan to invest a further £15 million to strengthen our position in offshore wind by creating a facility that can produce 150 jacket sub structures per annum.”