With BP and EnBW, Scotland’s Port of Leith has reserved the right to serve as the marshalling port for the 2900MW Morven offshore wind project.
The facility will be operational by the end of 2023 thanks to Forth Ports’ £50 million (€59 million) investment, offering a unique offshore wind berth and a sizeable land bank for the laydown and marshalling of offshore wind farm components.
Up to 1,000 high-quality, long-term direct jobs as well as about 2,000 indirect jobs are anticipated to be created by the hub, which has the ability to manufacture local content and serves as a basis for SMEs in the offshore wind supply chain, according to the Port.
The Morven project, which is 60 kilometres off Scotland’s east coast, was given to BP and EnBW during the ScotWind leasing round, with results made public earlier this year.
The Forth Green Freeport project, which seeks to re-industrialize Scotland, produce large-scale economic development, improve local supply chain growth, develop skills, and establish a world-class manufacturing cluster, heavily relies on the Port of Leith.
According to the Port, the proposal has the potential to create 50,000 new green employment, serve as a catalyst for the production of new green technology, and bring in £6 billion in private and governmental investment to Scotland.
Carole Cran, Forth Ports chief financial officer, said “This is significant news for our business and for Scotland, as we welcome BP and EnBW’s Morven project to Leith, the first of many for our new facility.”
“We will be the largest offshore renewables hub in Scotland, bringing manufacturing opportunities and highly skilled, local, green jobs.”
“This facility, and the Port of Dundee, will provide an integrated service offering to the offshore wind market, which will be instrumental in achieving the nation’s net zero targets over the next two decades.”
“Our vision is to create a renewables centre of excellence for R&D, manufacturing and assembly that matches anything in northern Europe, with genuine export potential.”
Richard Haydock, BP project director for offshore wind, said “BP and EnBW are delighted to have secured Port of Leith for our Morven project.”
“This is the next step for us to be able to deliver 2.9GW of clean energy.”
“The project’s investment will support the Port of Leith with its transformation into a renewables hub and help position Forth Ports for future Scottish offshore wind projects.”
Céline Combé, EnBW project director, added “Our journey with the Port of Leith started at a very early stage of our Morven project back in 2021.”
“EnBW and BP are excited about taking the collaboration with Forth Ports to the next level with this agreement.”
“It marks another important milestone in the development of our Morven project.”
“We are looking forward to continuing working with the team at Forth Ports, and we are proud to keep contributing to the build out of renewable infrastructure in and for Scotland.”
