Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) Offshore Wind Farm, jointly owned by EDF Renewables and ESB, is hosting a virtual event next Wednesday (18th November) to showcase how the local supply chain can support the build of its Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Base at Eyemouth Harbour.
The one hour session, ‘Building NnG’s O&M Base’, will focus on the opportunities available to local businesses who can support NnG with the development of a three storey main building and a two storey storage warehouse.
Scottish Borders Council recently approved NnG and Eyemouth Harbour Trust plans for the O&M building, designed by Corstorphine + Wright Architects, that will house the office, warehousing and staff welfare facilities required to support the servicing of NnG once the wind farm is operational 15.5km off the Fife coast.
A tender process is currently under way to identify suitable contractors to deliver the design and build of both the O&M building and the adjacent pontoon and marine works.
The investment in Eyemouth will bring an economic boost to the area providing up to 50 permanent jobs over the 25-year lifespan of the project. Additional benefits would see training, retraining and apprenticeship opportunities available to the residents of Eyemouth and the surrounding area.
‘Building NnG’s O&M Base’ is the first in a series of virtual events focused on how the Scottish supply chain can support delivery of NnG.
Matthias Haag, NnG Project Director, said: “Construction of NnG is now well under way, both onshore and offshore, and this virtual event is about creating opportunities for local businesses and making them visible to the main contractors building the O&M base in Eyemouth.
“We will need a wide range of skills and suppliers to build our O&M base and as part of our commitment to long term relationships with the local businesses we want to help the supply chain understand the tendering process.
“I’d encourage all local businesses in Eyemouth and the surrounding area who believe they can help with the build of our O&M Base to log on to this virtual supply chain event on 18th November.”
EDF Renewables is an active member of the Offshore Wind Industry Council and played a key role in the formation of Forth and Tay Offshore, which was established to support and advise companies on Scotland’s east coast about opportunities arising from the growth of offshore wind.
Onshore construction continues for NnG at various locations along the cable route which runs underground from Thorntonloch beach and up into the Lammermuir Hills. Offshore work started in August with seabed preparations carried out in advance of the foundations being installed.
You can sign up for this event here.