Taking the initiative

Dave March finds out why Dundee is ideally positioned to become a key location for the renewables sector

Dundee Renewables, an initiative launched last year, has developed a strategic partnership, incorporating the public, private, and academic sectors, committed to building a renewable energy industry in the city. The collaboration has been backed by Dundee City Council, Scottish Enterprise, and Forth Ports, amongst a number of other contributors.

The Scottish government’s National Renewables Infrastructure Plan has already earmarked Dundee as one of the most strategically important sites for marine renewables. Official figures suggest that by 2020 Scotland could be generating a quarter of Europe’s wind and tidal energy. In a massive economic opportunity for Scottish companies, over 2300 turbines will be sited off the Scottish coast. Wind, wave, and tidal power projects could result in £60 billion of investment and the creation of some 60,000 jobs. Dundee hopes to be at the centre of this, the biggest energy opportunity since the pioneering days of offshore oil and gas.

Location
So what makes Dundee such an attractive prospect? Well, essentially, location, location, location. The Port of Dundee is the closest port to the bulk of Scotland’s wind development zones. Furthermore, there are six riverside berths offering 1800 metres of deepwater quayside access; the berths offer 9 metres water depth below chart datum, as well has having no beam, or air draft restrictions. Sheltered by its estuarial position, the port also benefits from direct access to the North Sea.

The port offers 25 hectares of quayside development land, which is suitable for offshore wind manufacturing, as well as, 153 hectares within 5 km of the port, which could be used for satellite operations. The existing facilities make Dundee an effective base for companies to service the burgeoning renewable energy sector. Specialist facilities include ro-ro berth, weighbridge, and specialist breakbulk handling facilities with proven high productivity discharge. As well as this, a range of cranage facilities on-site includes a 1000 tonne heavy lift cranage capacity. The Port and its tenants have a proven track record in offshore engineering and logistics.

Needs
Charles Hammond, Group Chief Executive of Forth Ports comments, “Dundee City Council, Government and the Private Sector are all working together to ensure that the needs of the renewables sector can be met, and that Dundee has the potential to be a leading location on a European scale.”.
Dundee Renewables aims to raise the profile of the city and ultimately capture the opportunity to create jobs and generate economic growth, as well as attracting inward investment to Dundee.

The city already boasts a pool of relevant highly skilled workers suitable for the industry and the further education facilities to continually support this need. Furthermore, a large, international base of marine and sub-sea expertise is easily accessible thanks to the area’s existing offshore oil and gas industry. Within the region, there is also a cluster of engineering design and manufacturing companies with expertise in a wide range of sectors covering oil and gas, aerospace, processing, plus a growing reputation for renewable energy technology.

Leader of Dundee City Council Ken Guild says, “Dundee Renewables is committed to helping to ensure that the city is in the best possible position to make the most of the growing renewable energy sector”.

Dundee Renewables will be exhibiting at the following events,

please visit our stand and catch up with the latest developments.
All Energy Exhibition, Aberdeen, 19&20 May, 2010 Stand H85
RenewableUK’s Offshore Wind Annual Conference & Exhibition 29 & 30 June, 2010 Liverpool, Stand 127