Next year will see the construction of the £2.6 billion Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd project. Located 8.5 miles (13.5 km) off the coast of Caithness, the 84-turbine Beatrice offshore project will create 900 jobs and generate 588MW of power once operational in 2019.
Fraser Grieve, director of the SCDI’s Highlands and Islands, said: “This decision will bring a positive economic boost to the region creating hundreds of jobs during its construction, with some 90 long -term jobs created in Wick.” It is claimed that the farm would generate enough electricity for 450,000 properties and support about 890 jobs, while ninety staff would be needed to maintain the farm.
Before construction can begin next year, £10 million of investment is planned for improvements to be made to the development’s main base at Wick Harbour, which will serve as the base for the wind farm’s operations and maintenance facilities.
Energy giant SSE has the largest stake in the project at 40 percent, while Danish fund management firm Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has a 35 per cent stake and China-based SDIC Power owns 25 per cent.
Hailed as the “flagship project for the Scottish offshore wind industry”, SSE claims it will be one of the largest private investments ever made in Scottish infrastructure.
Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland, and Ross, claims Wick has not seen investment on such a scale since the herring boom of the early 1800s.
Paul Cooley, director of renewables at SSE, said: “Contracts have already been placed with many UK based suppliers, and Siemens intend to undertake turbine blade construction from Siemens’ new manufacturing facility in Hull.”
Debates and concerns have ensued with regards to the effect on Scottish waters, marine life and tourism to the area. Lang Banks, director of conservation group WWF Scotland argues however, that: “Proceeding with the Beatrice offshore wind farm is great news for the climate and Scotland’s economy, this single project will almost quadruple our offshore wind capacity, helping to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions as well as creating jobs and supporting local economic renewal.”
While WWF Scotland is primarily concerned with tackling climate change, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) say that it will bring important investment and jobs to the Highlands and Moray.
Banks added that: “Scotland’s waters boast 25% of Europe’s offshore wind resource and it is vital that we continue to tap into this invaluable resource in the future.”
Holyrood energy minister, Paul Wheelhouse, says it is “great news for the industry”. “The Beatrice offshore wind farm has the opportunity to deliver so much to Caithness and Scotland as a whole, in terms of employment and community benefit.
“Scotland’s renewables sector is stronger than ever and our early adoption of clean, green energy technology and infrastructure was the right thing to do.”