Shipyard group Harland & Wolff has welcomed the announcement by the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council (SOWEC) regarding the company’s plans to transform its Arnish and Methil facilities into leading hubs for renewable infrastructure.

Proposals for Harland & Wolff’s Scottish sites have advanced to the second stage of SOWEC’s Strategic Investment Model (SIM). SOWEC, a partnership between the Scottish public sector and the offshore wind industry, aims through its SIM process to deliver the significant upgrades required for Scotland’s offshore wind developments.

Support through the SOWEC SIM would significantly enhance Harland’s & Wolff’s ability to service and maintain the burgeoning renewable energy sector through both its Scottish sites, with the investment transforming Arnish and Methil into state-of-the-art centres for the fabrication and assembly of turbines and other structures for the industry.

Investment allocated to Methil would greatly expand its capacity to build fixed and floating offshore foundations, capitalising on its status as one the most geographically advantageous areas to support Scotland’s offshore wind developments. Through investment of around £172 million and improvements such as a quay extension, the site would have the ability to construct approximately 750MW of installed capacity each installation season and enable Harland & Wolff to take on large-scale renewable projects.

Harland & Wolff submitted its application in partnership with Stornoway Port to enable the development of the Stornoway Offshore Wind Hub.

£99 million of investment would allow for the creation of a new quay and floating dry dock, increasing the site’s construction capacity to 255MW of installed capacity per installation season. The upgraded port at Stornoway would boast a laydown area of over 10 hectares, providing ample space for the assembly and storage of renewable energy components.

By increasing the capacity and capabilities of the Methil and Arnish sites, Harland & Wolff is positioning itself as a key player in the development of sustainable energy solutions for Scotland and beyond. At present more than 12 offshore wind developers have been engaged in discussions around the projects.

The proposed £270 million investment would have a profound impact on the local communities, creating numerous direct and indirect job opportunities. The project at Methil would result in an additional 400 jobs, with a minimum of 200 roles expected for the project at Arnish including an apprenticeship and graduate programme for around 30 people. Harland & Wolff will work closely with local suppliers and educational institutions to ensure that the benefits of any investment are felt throughout the Methil and Arnish communities.

Scotland has set ambitious renewable energy targets, and Harland & Wolff’s enhanced facilities would enable the construction and maintenance of cutting-edge renewable energy infrastructure, contributing to Scotland’s reputation as a global leader in green energy.

John Wood, CEO of Harland & Wolff, said: “The seas around Scotland are a rich resource for renewable energy and we feel the proposed investments into our sites would best maximise this opportunity and support growth in this increasingly vital sector. The plans we have submitted to SOWEC are indicative of our ambitious plans for Arnish and Methil and our desire to make Harland & Wolff a leading player in the renewables industry.

“With the investment outlined for Methil, we hope to build upon Energy Park Fife’s reputation as a offshore wind hub, whilst funding for Arnish is focused on providing critical capacity for projects on Scotland’s west coast. In each of their own way, proposals for both sites aim to greatly enhance Harland & Wolff’s manufacturing facilities to best ensure a quality service for our offshore wind clients.

“Our proposals would support the creation of hundreds of jobs and we are committed to nurturing a skilled workforce that will both contribute to local economies and reinforce Scotland’s reputation as a global leader in sustainable infrastructure.”

Humza Yousaf, First Minister of Scotland, who recently visited Harland & Wolff’s Arnish site said: “It was a pleasure to join Alasdair Allan MSP and Cllr Susan Thomson at Arnish and meet the brilliant team earlier this month. There is clearly a wealth of important work taking place and it was fantastic to see the opportunities that Arnish is offering to local people – including through its apprenticeship programme.

“Harland & Wolff’s ability to service and maintain the renewable energy sector through both of its Scottish sites was clear to see and I look forward to hearing more about the continued progress in Arnish and Methil throughout the ongoing SOWEC process.”