A new factory making parts for floating offshore wind turbines is planned at the Port of Montrose in Angus. It is expected to create around 80 jobs.
Subsea Micropiles is investing more than £5 million in the facility. It will make components that secure floating turbines in deep water, for projects in Scotland and abroad. First Minister John Swinney welcomed the investment during a visit to the port.
How it is funded
The project has £1.45 million from Scottish Enterprise. This follows a £6.7 million commercial investment through the Scottish National Investment Bank, as part of the Scottish Government’s £500 million commitment to offshore wind ports and supply chains.
SSE’s Berwick Bank choice
On the same visit, the First Minister welcomed SSE naming Montrose as its preferred location for the operations and maintenance base of its planned Berwick Bank B offshore wind farm. That base is expected to bring about another 100 jobs.
The government says Montrose is set to become one of the world’s largest offshore wind operations and maintenance hubs, supporting the Berwick Bank, Seagreen and Inch Cape wind farms.
What the companies say
Derek Robertson, chief executive of Subsea Micropiles, said the company sees significant potential for high-volume production of its anchor and foundation systems in Montrose as the market develops. Stuart Hood of SSE Renewables said the decision showed the economic opportunities that can follow from long-term investment.
A note on the figures
The job numbers are projections. The Berwick Bank base is a preferred location for a planned wind farm, not a finished facility.
