The Anonymous Widower

Two Ports Advance To Next Stage Of UK Gov Funding For Floating Wind

The title of this post, is the same as this article in Ground Engineering.

This is the sub-heading.

Port Talbot in Wales and Port of Cromarty Firth in Scotland have advanced to the next stage of a government funding scheme to develop port infrastructure that will facilitate floating offshore wind.

These three paragraphs introduce the developments.

The UK Government has agreed that the port expansion projects should progress to the next stage of its floating offshore wind manufacturing investment scheme (FLOWMIS) known as the primary list phase.

Up to £160M of grant funding will be allocated to certain investments in the floating offshore wind sector under the scheme.

The money will go towards funding the basic infrastructure necessary to support the assembly of floating offshore wind turbines. This includes the construction, replacement and upgrade of port infrastructure to accommodate large components such as towers and blades, as well as steel and concrete foundations and mooring cables required for floating offshore wind.

The article also says this about Port Talbot.

The Future Port Talbot project in south Wales would see the port transformed into a major hub for the manufacturing, assembly, and integration of floating offshore wind components for projects in the Celtic Sea.

Associated British Ports (ABP), which owns and operates the port, welcomed the government’s decision.

Note.

1. Port Talbot will almost certainly use locally produced steel.
2. There appears to be at least 4,832 MW of floating wind to be developed in the Celtic Sea in the next few years.

Port Talbot would be ideally placed to handle both English and Welsh coasts and waters in the Celtic Sea.

The article also says this about the Port of Cromarty Firth.

The Port of Cromarty Firth (PoCF) on the east coast of the Scottish Highlands will undergo a fifth phase of expansion work. This will develop the facilities and infrastructure necessary to enable the port to support offshore wind infrastructure projects off the coast of Scotland.

Over £50M has also been earmarked for the port’s expansion.

There appears to be at least 15,216 MW of floating wind to be developed in Scotland in the next few years.

Both ports seem to have welcomed the funding.

Adding the plans for Scotland and the Celtic Sea together gives a figure of just over 20 GW of floating wind to be developed in the next few years.

Conclusion

Surely, the award of funding for floating wind, is a good way to create a new industry and jobs in these two areas and also perform some sensible levelling-up.

I also suspect that spending £160 million to enable the construction of 20 GW of floating wind farm is a good return on the investment.

March 25, 2024 Posted by AnonW | Energy | ABP, Celtic Sea, Development, Floating Wind Power, FLOWMIS, Inverness & Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, Levelling Up, Offshore Wind Power, Port Talbot, UK Port Development | 5 Comments