Offshore Wind Farm in Moray Firth Has the Go Ahead
Posted by Steve Thomas on Friday, July 22, 2016
In one of the biggest private investments in Scottish infrastructure to date, the Beatrice offshore wind farm in the Moray Firth has consent from the Scottish Government to go ahead. This is good news for construction vacancies in the area.
Not only will this mean enough power to generate electricity for 450,000 properties but it will also offer opportunities for almost 900 jobs during the build. Once complete - it is estimated to be operational in 2019 - there will still be the need for 90 staff to maintain and ensure the farm runs well.
"Around £10m of investment is planned at Wick Harbour to house the wind farm's operations and maintenance facilities and improving the existing RNLI facilities." claims SSE's Director of Renewables, Paul Cooley. This is a 'drop in the ocean' (please excuse the pun) compared to the overall cost of the project at £2.6 billion.
The Scottish energy company SSE which has a 40% interest in the project, the largest of those involved, is partnering with the Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (35%) and Chinese power company SDIC Power (25%).
Getting Started
The construction of the onshore facility will start this year followed by offshore work for the 84 turbine project in 2017.
To get this project off the ground, necessary skilled labour will be needed to lay power cables from the land, lay jacket foundations on the sea bed, install offshore transformers, plus construction of the operation and maintenance facilities in Wick.
Initially SSE will be looking for professionals for the onshore construction. There are likely to be vacancies for engineers, quantity surveyors, project managers, build planners and more. This will be followed by professionals to build and service the offshore farm next year.
Green Energy Boosting the National Grid
The energy produced will be connected to the National Grid generating enough power for almost half a million buildings.
According to Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Business, Innovation & Energy in the Scottish Government, this project ensures that "Scotland is well on course to meet its interim renewables' target and is delivering a strong contribution to global climate efforts. I look forward to this project contributing to our green energy mix.”
Great Opportunities for the Construction Industry
This offers up ongoing opportunities for the UK construction industry at all levels over the next three years and beyond for the maintenance and the running of this project.
If you are in the market and have the relevant qualifications as quantity surveyors, project managers, build planters and engineers, please make sure that you submit your CV to us so that you don't miss out on any of these opportunities.
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Steve Thomas
Director - Hong Kong & UK Construction Recruitment Specialist