The Pentland Floating Offshore Wind Farm has published supply chain information through Crown Estate Scotland in a format consistent with a Supply Chain Development Statement (SCDS).
This outlines the project’s commitments to developing the floating offshore wind supply chain across Scotland and the rest of the UK.
The SCDS follows the five-step supply chain ambition process which is now mandatory for all ScotWind developers. Pentland is not part of ScotWind but the project chose to submit this information to the Crown Estate Scotland (CES) to demonstrate best practice and to reaffirm its commitment to local communities.
Overall, it is expected that Pentland will deliver lifetime expenditure of £419m GBP in the UK. This is in line with the project’s 40-60% lifetime UK content aim. Projections also show Pentland will support the creation of up to 1,300 FTE supply chain roles during construction and 85 FTE during operation of the project.
To inform the submission, Pentland carried out a supply chain mapping exercise and local content assessment to understand regional capabilities and the geographical breakdown of project expenditure, supported by locally based consultancy Xodus and the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Project Director Richard Copeland said: “These are significant figures for floating wind in Scotland and the UK. They showcase our commitment to the country’s floating offshore wind sector and nurturing the development of local supply chain capabilities ahead of ScotWind project development – a fundamental aim of this project.
“By carrying out this preparatory work, the process has allowed us to understand the existing supply chain capabilities on offer, and the areas in which we can drive local expenditure, job creation and skills development.
“We have also taken steps to ensure early visibility of future opportunities and engage with the supply chain as widely as possible. Over the last few months, we’ve held a series of events to give an overview of the work packages on offer and will continue to organize more of these in 2023.”
Scott Hamilton, Head of Offshore renewables at Xodus said: “We were able to offer our in-depth knowledge of Scottish capabilities, identifying key areas for strategic supply chain engagement for Pentland with the aim of promoting a sustainable local floating offshore wind supply chain ready for commercial-scale opportunities.
“The project marks an important stepping-stone in progressing the floating offshore wind supply chain in the UK, providing key insights into the strengths and capability gaps of Scottish and wider UK companies.”
Euan Black, Subject Network Leader for Business, Management and Leisure at UHI, said: “We were pleased to provide socioeconomic information to inform this development. The report also gave one of our interns an opportunity to gain experience on a real-life project.”
The submission comes ahead of a Business Breakfast in partnership with Caithness Chamber of Commerce. The event will take place in Thurso on November 23, to introduce the project and the opportunities available to supply chain companies in the area.
Further information about the project and the procurement process can be found at www.pentlandfloatingwind.com
