News

Green Job Opportunity Blows in Thanks to New Offshore Windfarm

Community Engagement Manager

An exciting green job opportunity to become part of Scotland's clean energy future is now available in Argyll thanks to Scottish Power Renewables' new MachairWind offshore windfarm.

ScottishPower is recruiting a Community Engagement Manager to support the development of MachairWind, which will be developed off the coast of Argyll - north- west of Islay and west of Colonsay – within an area of the seabed awarded by Crown Estate Scotland.

SPR hosts island drop-in events for new MachairWind offshore windfarm

Local people on Islay, Colonsay, and Jura will get the opportunity to find out more about a new offshore windfarm being developed by ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) at a series of drop-in events being hosted on the islands next week.

Earlier this year, Crown Estate Scotland awarded SPR the rights to develop an offshore windfarm off the coast of Argyll.

MachairWind_map

The new offshore windfarm – MachairWind – has a proposed capacity of 2GW, which is enough clean, green electricity to power the equivalent of more than 2 million homes across the UK.

This will be SPR’s first offshore windfarm in the region – and first project of its kind in Scottish waters. The project will build on SPR’s long-standing presence and positive track record of investing in, and working with, local communities and businesses across Argyll & Bute.

SPR is hosting three public drop-in events between Tuesday 25 October and Thursday 27 October to give local people, communities and businesses the chance to find out more about the project, meet the team and understand how they can help shape a cleaner and greener future for us all.

The events are:

Jura: 12 noon-3pm on Tuesday 25 October – Jura Village Hall, Craighouse
Colonsay: 12 noon-3pm on Wednesday 26 October – Colonsay Village Hall, Scalasaig
Islay: 3pm-6pm on Thursday 27 October – Islay Gaelic Centre, Gartnatra

SPR’s Senior Project Manager for MachairWind, Kiera Wilson, said: “We have been working with local people, communities and businesses across Argyll & Bute for more than 20 years through the delivery of our onshore windfarms, so it’s really exciting to now be bringing offshore wind to this area where we’re known to be a responsible developer and a good neighbour.

“While it’s still early days for the project, we want to give local people and businesses the opportunity to be informed and involved from the very outset, so we look forward to meeting and speaking with as many people as possible in Colonsay, Islay and Jura at these events.

“MachairWind will play an important part in tackling the climate emergency, driving down carbon emissions and increasing the UK’s energy security. The project will result in more green electricity being generated in the UK, for the UK, and it will also make a positive and lasting difference for those who live and work in the local region.

“So, whether you’re interested in exploring job or supply chain opportunities, or just want to know more about what this exciting green project could mean for the islands, please come along to meet the team and find out more.”

Anyone who is unable to attend can keep up to date on the MachairWind website: www.machairwind.co.uk.

Further regional events are also being planned for 2023.

ScottishPower has won the rights to develop plans for its first fixed offshore windfarm in Scottish waters as part of Crown Estate Scotland’s ScotWind Leasing.

The MachairWind project off the coast of Islay, which could deliver 2GW of cleaner renewable energy, will make a significant contribution to tackling climate change and achieving Net Zero, with the potential to generate enough clean electricity to power over 2 million homes in Scotland.

It will also build on ScottishPower’s long-standing presence and positive track record of investing in and working with local communities and businesses across Argyll & Bute to realise the benefits of renewable energy developments.

MachairWind_map

Keith Anderson, CEO of ScottishPower, said: “ScottishPower has been working with people, communities and businesses across Argyll & Bute for more than 20 years now as we’ve built our onshore wind portfolio. So, it’s really exciting to be expanding into offshore wind in a region where we’re known as a responsible developer and a good neighbour."

“Offshore wind is set to become the backbone of the UK’s energy mix and will do the heavy lifting as we ramp up the production of clean electricity on the journey to Net Zero. MachairWind will play an important part in that and make the best use of the region’s fantastic natural resources to help power the UK’s transition from fossil fuels to renewables and a better future, quicker. It will also help deliver investment, support jobs and boost supply chains – opening up immense opportunities for businesses and institutions across the region and the country – who can register their interest on our online portal now.”

George Dean, Director, Islay Energy Trust Ltd, said: “The development of a major offshore wind farm to the north-west of Islay opens up the prospect to deliver significant benefits to the islands of Islay, Jura and Colonsay. Our electricity supply has been constrained and subject to occasional undersea cable failures, and we are over-reliant on the importation of fossil fuels. With this project, we can seek opportunities to decarbonise our islands. Having worked closely with ScottishPower in the past, we are both very familiar with what it takes to engage with the community, and ensure an open and positive relationship.”

Leader of Argyll and Bute Council, Councillor Robin Currie said: “This has the potential to bring significant benefits to Argyll and Bute, as well as more widely across Scotland. It could increase by 200% the amount of clean energy we produce in Argyll and Bute, and make a major contribution to getting Scotland and Argyll and Bute to net zero. It creates opportunities for a substantial number of temporary and permanent jobs across Argyll and Bute, helping our economy recover and grow sustainably. It also has the potential to position Argyll and Bute as a place where new industries such as data centres can access a ready supply of renewable energy. We look forward to working with ScottishPower Renewables as this project moves forward.”

ScottishPower and Shell to provide £50 million in supply chain stimulus funds for their two floating ScotWind projects – MarramWind and CampionWind
Further £25 million funding from ScottishPower to support its fixed ScotWind project - MachairWind
Funding will 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

scotwind_sp_shell

Successful ScotWind partners, ScottishPower and Shell, are set to invest a total of £75 million to help the supply chain and businesses support the growth of the offshore wind industry in Scotland.

ScottishPower and Shell were awarded the seabed rights to develop two new floating wind projects through Crown Estate Scotland’s ScotWind Leasing at the start of the year:

MarramWind joint venture off the north-east coast of Scotland (3GW)
CampionWind joint venture off the east coast of Scotland (2GW)

In addition, ScottishPower was awarded the seabed rights for a fixed foundation project off the coast of Islay – MachairWind (2GW).

Collectively, the projects have the potential to create enough clean energy to power almost 8.5 million homes – more than three times the number of homes in Scotland.

Each of the floating projects will benefit from a £25 million supply chain stimulus fund from ScottishPower and Shell, with a £25 million fund linked to MachairWind provided by ScottishPower alone.

The funds – announced today at Scottish Renewables’ Offshore Wind Conference in Glasgow – are designed to help create new offshore wind capability in Scotland that would not otherwise be possible.

Mandy Gloyer, New UK Offshore Sites Manager for ScottishPower Renewables, said: “These funds will open up huge opportunities for the supply chain in Scotland as we gear up to lead the development of commercial-scale floating wind and kick start a new global green offshore industry.

“We look forward to working with government, partners, industry and the supply chain to shape the funds and maximise their impact on the Scottish economy, with jobs and investment for local people and businesses across the country. This is a really exciting time and a great chance for companies to get involved in delivering a clean energy future.”

Melissa Read, UK Offshore Wind Business Manager, Shell said: “These funds are in addition to direct project investment in supply chain facilities and will directly support the Scottish supply chain. This includes businesses keen to make the transition to the renewables sector through investment in infrastructure, facilities that will manufacture and service offshore wind projects and support for companies to innovate and upskill.”

Applications to the funds will open up later in the year. Online supply chain registration portals for all three projects are now live, giving organisations the chance to get involved in working with ScottishPower and Shell to shape the next chapter for the offshore wind industry.

Further information on the projects – including a registration area for potential supply chain partners – is available at:

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News

Green Job Opportunity Blows in Thanks to New Offshore Windfarm

Community Engagement Manager

SPR hosts island drop-in events for new MachairWind offshore windfarm

ScottishPower has won the rights to develop plans for its first fixed offshore windfarm in Scottish waters as part of Crown Estate Scotland’s ScotWind Leasing.

Scottishpower and shell confirm multi million offshore wind supply chain funds

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News

Green Job Opportunity Blows in Thanks to New Offshore Windfarm

Community Engagement Manager

SPR hosts island drop-in events for new MachairWind offshore windfarm

ScottishPower has won the rights to develop plans for its first fixed offshore windfarm in Scottish waters as part of Crown Estate Scotland’s ScotWind Leasing.

Scottishpower and shell confirm multi million offshore wind supply chain funds

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