A Highland port set to become an “offshore wind hub” has secured a £100m credit boost from UK and Scottish government-backed banks.
Haventus, owner of Port Ardersier in the Moray Firth, is currently redeveloping the 450-acre site between Inverness and Nairn.
The transformation of the former McDermott construction yard is expected to support future offshore wind projects across the UK and Europe in the transition to net zeroas well as enabling the in-house decommissioning of aging North Sea oil and gas assets.
The development, part of the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport site, is expected to open in 2025 and will support hundreds of jobs.
Work is already underway at the site, which will include a new 650 meter quay wall and associated quay.
Once completed, the site will have dock access and infrastructure for screening, integration, manufacturing and assembly of offshore wind components.
It will be the largest port facility dedicated to the deployment of offshore wind energy in Scotlandcapable of hosting and supporting gigawatt-scale projects.
In 2023, the project received £300 million from Quantum Energy Partners.
Haventus has now secured a joint credit facility from the Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB) and the UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB), with an increase of £50 million from each.
Photo: Haventus
Lewis Gillies, chief executive of Haventus, said the company was “delighted” with the banks’ support.
He added: “With their and Quantum’s support, the Port of Ardersier is poised to become a critical offshore wind hub and a major job creator and enabler.
“It will play a crucial role in helping the country achieve its net zero ambitions.
“With work underway at the site, we aim to have the facility open and operational in the second half of next year.
“This progress has been achieved in a very short period of time, due in large part to the constructive engagement we have had with Highland Council, our consenting agencies and regulators and government departments.”
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The £100 million investment is the first time SNIB and UKIB have co-financed a project since the two banks signed a memorandum of understanding formalizing their close working relationship on projects like this.
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John Swinney, the new First Minister of Scotland, said the show of support from both banks demonstrated “huge confidence” in the development, which would help deliver a “fairer, greener future for everyone”.
He added: “Scotland’s growing offshore wind capabilities present an era-defining opportunity – not just to achieve a just transition to net zero, but to harness the skills that lie across our energy sector and a wider supply chain to create thousands of green jobs and transform our regional and national economies.”
Andrew Bowie, the UK government’s minister for nuclear and renewable energy, described Scotland as a “pioneer” in offshore wind technology.
He added: “The UK has an offshore wind record to be proud of, with the highest installed capacity in Europe and home to the five largest operational wind farms off our coasts.”
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