Scottish renewables hub

Forth Ports wants to build a GB£40m renewable energy hub on a 175-acre site at the Port of Leith, north east of Edinburgh. The private investment will see the creation of a bespoke, riverside marine berth capable of accommodating the world’s largest offshore wind installation vessels.

Charles Hammond OBE, group chief executive of Forth Ports, said: “We are committed to playing a significant role in the renewable energy sector and, through that, Scotland’s energy transition to net zero as we also tackle the challenges of Covid-19 recovery and economic regeneration.

“This is a pump-priming investment in logistics and marine infrastructure at the Port of Leith as we harness Scotland’s natural resources for future generations and has the potential to play a significant part in our forthcoming Firth of Forth Green Port bid.”

Heavy lift capability

The facility will feature a heavy lift capability of up to 100t per square metre, backed up by 35 acres of adjacent land for logistics and marshalling. This will be supplemented by the upgrading of a 140-acre cargo handling site to accommodate lay down; assembly; supply chain and manufacturing opportunities. The total area is equivalent to around 100 full size football pitches.

Forth Ports said the Firth of Forth’s natural deep waters and its proximity to the North Sea, set to become home to many more offshore wind developments, make it ideally suited to supporting future offshore wind farm development, both fixed and floating.

The hub has the potential to secure the Firth of Forth as the driver for Scotland’s green energy transition and make a major contribution to Scotland achieving its 2045 net zero greenhouse gases target.