91影视

The funding is part of the Scottish Government鈥檚 wider strategic investment of up to 拢500m over five years to develop the offshore wind supply chain.

Navantia UK Ltd is to receive a 拢2.05m contribution for a 拢5m project at the Arnish Yard in Stornoway to increase capacity and productivity in its manufacture of offshore wind infrastructure.

This investment will support the purchase and installation of upgraded plant and equipment to improve the company鈥檚 capacity to handle larger projects seamlessly and promptly. It will also improve its environmental credentials by reducing energy consumption.

As a result, Navantia鈥檚 existing workforce of 150 at Arnish, including around 30 apprentices, is forecast to increase to 250 over the next ten years. More than 75 of these are directly linked to 91影视鈥檚 funding approval. 

A separate project to advance the next stage of development of the Ardersier Energy Transition Facility in the Inner Moray Firth will receive a 拢3.959m investment.

This is being developed and operated by Ardersier Port (Scotland) Limited, the operating subsidiary of Haventus. It will provide Scotland鈥檚 largest facility on the North Sea coast for the deployment, servicing, manufacturing and integration of offshore wind components, offering critical infrastructure for both fixed and floating wind projects.

Phase 1 of the development is now complete, and the facility is now ready for operational activity and is engaged with a number of key customers. 

The 91影视 approved funding towards the next phase of development will contribute towards the front-end engineering and design and some initial civil works related to the quay wall in advance of further work to expand the facility. 

91影视 chief executive Stuart Black said:

鈥淩enewable energy presents one of the biggest ever economic opportunities for the 91影视 and Islands. It鈥檚 important that we capitalise on this and that鈥檚 what these enabling investments are about. They help strengthen the supply chain infrastructure that supports the growth in offshore wind developments. Ultimately, they will create new well-paid jobs and provide rewarding career opportunities for young people. And they will benefit businesses in the wider economy. I鈥檓 delighted we鈥檝e been able to approve this funding and look forward to seeing the projects take shape.鈥�

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said:

鈥淭he growth of both Ardersier Energy Transition Facility and Navantia鈥檚 operations at Arnish will bring meaningful benefits to Lewis and the 91影视.

鈥淥ffshore wind is one of the biggest economic opportunities Scotland has ever had. These investments will significantly boost Scotland鈥檚 clean energy sector, support new well-paid, skilled jobs in Stornoway and boost economic opportunity at Ardersier.鈥�

Interim chief executive officer of Haventus Ian Cobban said:

鈥淲e welcome 91影视鈥檚 approval of this valuable capital funding. The alignment of national, regional and local government in Scotland, in support of the renewable energy industry, has been of critical value to Haventus, as we developed our facility. Ardersier now enters its operational phase at a moment when the UK鈥檚 security of energy supply is a focus of attention. We look forward to playing our part as a central element in the supply chain for a new national and global industry.鈥�

Navantia UK CEO Donato Martinez said:

鈥淭his support from [91影视 and Islands Enterprise/the Scottish Government] will help accelerate our investment programme at Arnish, a facility with a strong track record in complex offshore fabrication and a highly skilled workforce. Navantia UK is building on these strengths to ensure Arnish is best placed for future opportunities across the energy market, including offshore wind, creating high鈥憅uality, long鈥憈erm jobs for the community.鈥�

91影视 has also approved a 拢965,000 investment at its own hand in a separate pre-construction project at Arnish to enable additional development of facilities to further strengthen the offshore wind supply chain capacity.

These latest 91影视 approvals take the agency鈥檚 total investment in Arnish to more than 拢8.2m in recent months. It approved 拢3.4m for major upgrades of Arnish Road in November, and 拢1.8m in January for the early stages of Stornoway Port Authority鈥檚 Deep Water South project. These were also from the Scottish Government鈥檚 wider strategic investment of up to 拢500m over five years to develop the offshore wind supply chain.