As the demand for larger deep-water facilities across the UK grows, Global Energy Group has taken a step towards expanding the West Quay at the Port of Nigg. GEG and Siemens Gamesa have previously selected the Port of Nigg as the location for the pre-assembly and installation of wind turbines for the Moray West offshore wind farm.

GEG has now progressed the Port of Nigg’s West Quay Deepwater Expansion project to Stage 2 of The Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council (SOWEC) Strategic Investment Model (SIM).

The project builds upon the existing West Quay at Nigg. Additionally, it will create a new ultra-deep-water berth with a 160-metre quay at a water depth of 22 metres Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT). Furthermore, the expansion includes the development of an expansive laydown and storage area spanning 46,860 square metres, featuring a ground loading capacity of 50mt/m2, according to Global Energy Group.

Strategic Investment Model

The SIM was established to help deliver transformational growth within Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain through innovative collaboration between offshore wind and INTOG developers, the Scottish Government, enterprise agencies, and Crown Estate Scotland. Stage 2 focuses on ensuring the shortlisted projects have the confidence to make Final Investment Decisions.

Commenting on positive news, Iain Sinclair, Executive Director at Global Energy Group, said, “The vital enabling role that Scotland’s Ports and Harbours will play in supporting national net zero and energy security targets, specifically for offshore wind, is well documented. Being shortlisted to progress to the second stage of the SIM process is a welcome confirmation of industry confidence in the Port of Nigg’s strategic role in the industrialisation of offshore wind.”

“We look forward to working collaboratively with SOWEC’s investor stakeholders, and all of our Ports and Harbours partners, to deliver the critical enabling infrastructure required to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind in the UK,” he said.

A major role in Scottish offshore wind ambitions

Port of Nigg has already benefited from over €140.4 million (GBP120 million) investment by GEG into the ongoing redevelopment and expansion. Crucially, the facility has played a pivotal role in supporting five major offshore wind projects in Scotland, totalling 2.6GW.

The proposed expansion will elevate Nigg’s capacity to accommodate the evolving landscape of offshore wind structures. This includes both fixed and floating installations, as well as larger installation vessels.

Central to this development is the establishment of an ultra-deep-water, sea-facing berth, positioning the Port of Nigg as one of the deepest ports in the UK. The expansion will result in a combined addition of 420 metres of quayside at Nigg, bringing the facility’s total quayside to 1,555 metres.

SOWEC earlier confirmed that a total of 38 projects – with a potential capital value of €7.6 billion (GBP6.5 billion) completed Stage 1 of the SIM process. An initial 3 Projects have been invited to move into Stage 2, including the Port of Cromarty Firth in Invergordon, which is a fellow Inverness & Cromarty Firth Green Freeport facility.