Port authority signs offshore wind agreement
Kevin Craigens
Lerwick Port Authority will provide support for a major floating offshore windfarm after signing a memorandum of understanding earlier today (Wednesday).
The memorandum with Irish energy company ESB is aimed at providing support for the development and operation of an offshore windfarm.
It was hoped that ongoing operations and maintenance activities will help create a 500MW facility east of Shetland.
Lerwick Port Authority chief executive Captain Calum Grains said the agreement was a “significant step” in the move for Lerwick to be a major support centre for the offshore wind industry.
“It will provide the framework to deliver the requirements of ESB’s wind farm and develop our comprehensive facilities, building on our decades of oil and gas experience,” he said.
“Our involvement will underpin our advancing plans for an ultra deep water quay and additional laydown at the deep-water Dales Voe base which will service the energy sector.”
Bob Marsh
As per the 5/2/23 Glasgow Herald article below on the subject, the allocation of Scottish offshore wind farm leases, including the Shetlands, by ScotWind has been a poorly managed, collection benefit for the Crown Estate and Scottish government. This adds to other government responsible disasters such as trams, ferries, and the SNHS.
Sadly the net benefit to Shetland of being a potential major green net zero production powerhouse for the UK, also from onshore wind such as Viking, is in reality far less than it should. Certainly major environmental detritus in accommodating this, while the struggle goes on by SIC for such as modern ferries, housing, tunnels, SNHS, dentistry, whatever. This port agreement a small component facilitating revenue stream heading south from Shetland.
Apart from risk to fisheries, being such an important part of the economy, news of environment damage or potential for such from these structures and cabling is becoming evident. The recent 30/6/23 Australian Fishing Trade Association impact assessment on wind farms mentions issues of relevance to Shetland. In the fashion of NOAA Fisheries, SIC must take responsibility to monitor the environmental effect of these wind farms going into Shetland and it’s waters.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/23300089.scotwind-scotland-faces-loss-60bn-new-offshore-wind-farms/
https://afta.net.au/offshore-wind-farms-the-impacts/
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/offshore-wind-energy/protecting-marine-life