Montrose Port has been selected as the preferred operations and maintenance base for the Seagreen offshore wind farm.
The news comes after the project’s succesful bid in the UK Government’s Contracts for Difference Auction.
The windfarm, which represents a lifetime investment of around £6 billion is owned by Perth-based SSE Renewables.
It will be Scotland’s largest offshore windfarm and is expected to produce enough engery to power over 40% of all households in Scotland.
At more than 27Km off the Angus coastline, it is the furthest from shore of any Scottish offshore windfarm.
John Hill, Seagreen project director, said: “The operations and maintenance base will play an important role in the day-to-day running of Seagreen and we’re pleased to confirm Montrose as our preferred home.
“Maintenance activities will be overseen from Montrose Port by our team to ensure the project is able to deliver clean, renewable energy reliably and safely on a day-to-day basis.”
The move is set to ensure ongoing investment and re-development of the existing facilites at the port.
The decision has been welcomed the chief executive of Montrose Port, Tom Hutchison.
He said: “We are absolutely delighted that SSE Renewables has chosen Montrose Port as its operations and maintenance base for this landmark project.
“Reflecting our consistently flexible approach and long-term diversification strategy, SSE Renewables’ decision also represents an outstanding opportunity for the local supply chain network and will result in the creation of a number of jobs in the area.”
Seagreen is also predicted to bring up to 410 jobs to Scotland and the UK annually.
SSE Renewables, the project’s owner, has just led the development and construction of the fourth largest offshore wind farm in the world, the Beatrice offshore wind farm in the outer Moray Firth and hopes to replicate the economic benefits at Seagreen.
Mr Hill added: “A project of Seagreen’s scale requires a huge investment and our aim is to utilise local, Scottish and UK based suppliers where possible during development.”
Companies interested in being a potential future supplier to the project can register their interest on the project’s dedicated website.
Seagreen is also seeking to use the new Open4Business website to publish opportunities.”
jimillar@thecourier.co.uk