General – Renewables
An initiative has been launched to unlock a £1billion offshore wind opportunity for Scottish oil and gas supply chain companies to diversify into renewables.
Bowdun, a 1GW offshore wind farm planned 27 miles off Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire from the ‘ScotWind’ leasing round, has launched the Supply Chain Pathways Program.
The scheme, which has 60 firms involved to date, aims to break down barriers for Scottish firms, including oil and gas specialists, entering the offshore wind industry, which is often dominated by major Tier 1 contractors with established supply chains.
Bowdun will work with its partner DEME Offshore to pre-qualify local firms as suppliers.
These companies will then be able to compete for work not only on Bowdun, but also on other DEME Offshore projects in the UK and internationally.
The program will bring suppliers into the process years earlier than usual, helping them prepare investment cases, build capability, and, ultimately, win work.
Bowdun and its partners are seeking to align these suppliers with the requirements of the project, including transport, installation, and other ‘balance of plant’ components.
Thistle Wind Partners’ Supply Chain Pathways Programme is an example of the public and private sectors working together to grow our supply chain companies and help them win contracts at home and abroad. This proactive approach keeps Scotland at the forefront of global offshore wind development.”
Project Director of the Bowdun Offshore Wind Farm Ian Taylor said: “Bowdun aims to be a bridge between Scotland’s abundant offshore wind resource and its world-class oil and gas engineering capability. Working with DEME Offshore, this program will help deliver value through Bowdun while supporting the supply chain to seize international opportunities.”
