Packed supply chain event as businesses explore MarramWind opportunities

Around 80 representatives from supply chain businesses across the north-east packed a special event in Peterhead this week to hear about the opportunities that could be available thanks to the proposed MarramWind floating offshore windfarm.

Organised in conjunction with the DeepWind offshore wind cluster, the event gave businesses the chance to find out more about the exciting green project – a joint venture between ScottishPower Renewables and Shell.

With the potential to be one of the first large-scale floating offshore windfarms in the world, MarramWind will be located 75 kilometres off the north-east coast of Scotland, in water depths averaging 111 metres.

It could deliver up to 3GW of clean renewable energy – that’s enough green electricity to power the equivalent of more than 3.5 million homes across the UK.

A £25 million Supply Chain Stimulus Fund will be available as part of the project to support investment in Scottish infrastructure and facilities for offshore wind and help companies innovate and upskill and become a key part of the clean energy future.

This is in addition to direct project investment in supply chain facilities and will directly support the Scottish supply chain.

Businesses at the supply chain event represented a wide range of specialist products and services including construction, consultancy, engineering, fabrication, marine services, plant and vessel hire, and port services.

MarramWind’s Supply Chain Manager, Charlene Leppard, said: “It was great to see so much interest in MarramWind at such an early stage in the development process and we really appreciate everyone taking the time to come along.

“Projects like ours could deliver billions of pounds of investment in Scotland and help support thousands of jobs – with opportunities all the way from entry level through to supporting experienced people transition from the oil and gas industry into the green economy.

“Events like this are a really important step in helping ensure we understand how the skills, capabilities and experience across the local supply chain fit with what’s required for what could be the world’s first commercial-scale floating offshore windfarms and how we can support SME growth to maximise local content and future opportunities.

“It’s a really exciting time for the industry and the north-east as a whole and we’re very proud to be working with industry and the supply chain on that journey towards a cleaner and greener future.”