Wind turbine components for the Moray West offshore wind farm will be marshalled at the port of Nigg prior to installation and commissioning through 2024, if the Siemens Gamesa deal goes through. The port in the Cromarty Firth in Scotland has been conditionally selected by Siemens Gamesa as the location for pre-assembly and installation of wind turbines. 

The Moray West offshore wind project is being developed by Ocean Winds, and Siemens Gamesa has been named the preferred bidder to supply the offshore wind turbines. Siemens Gamesa signed a conditional agreement with Global Energy Group to use Nigg as the base for installation work. The start of operations is subject to financial close and a contract for difference expected in 2022.

If successful and converted to a firm order, the agreement to supply Moray West would contribute to the pipeline of offshore wind projects that have used Nigg including Moray East. Moray West has a rapid deployment plan, which will mean an almost continuous use of Nigg for pre-assembly and installation campaigns for offshore wind energy projects from 2017 to 2024.

Project director for Moray West, Adam Morrison said, “The decision to utilise Nigg follows three successful and safe large installation campaigns, including our sister project Moray East. Having suitable facilities to secure the Moray West work has underlined the value of earlier investments in Nigg and the ongoing need to invest in quayside infrastructure to support the growth of the sector. If successful in the ScotWind leasing round, Ocean Winds will make very large early investments to drive the next large steps necessary to build capability and capacity in the Scottish supply chain.”

Speaking of the Port of Nigg capabilities, Tim Cornelius, CEO of Global Energy Group said, “Our location coupled with existing laydown space and heavy load bearing capacity makes the Port of Nigg the ideal location to deliver large scale storage and marshalling for both fixed and floating offshore wind projects.”

He added that the company is committed to further investing in and developing the necessary infrastructure to support the future increase in demand from developers.