Feature, Freight News, Sea

Forth Ports starts work on Leith renewables hub

[ May 23, 2023   //   Chris Lewis ]

Forth Ports has started building Scotland’s largest renewables hub at the Port of Leith with the start of work on the new riverside marine berth.

Forth Ports’ £50m project in Leith will create a site capable of accommodating the world’s largest offshore wind installation vessels and with a heavy lift capability of up to 100 tonnes per square metre (t/m2), backed up by 175 acres of adjacent land for logistics, marshalling and manufacturing. Working with specialist contractor, GRAHAM, the berth is being created immediately outside the port’s lock gates, giving faster ship turnaround times and the ability to accommodate larger vessels. Works began in January on the marine and land-side port infrastructure upgrades, with completion expected in summer 2024.

The Leith Renewables Hub will be part of the Forth Green Freeport’s strategically located tax and customs sites.

Group chief executive of Forth Ports, Charles Hammond said: “The work under way in Leith will pave the way for Scotland to maximise the supply chain value and jobs from the ScotWind offshore wind leasing round. We are committed to playing our part in making Scotland’s renewables future a reality and the construction of this new berth in Leith is a significant step forward.

“Our major investment in Leith’s logistics and marine infrastructure will be crucial to the success of the Forth Green Freeport. With existing and future offshore wind farm development plans in the North Sea, this renewables hub has the potential to support offshore wind construction projects for the next 30 years.”

Leith is close to the major North Sea offshore wind sites, and with the natural deep waters of the Firth of Forth and existing skills base, says it is in a strong location to support planned developments, as well as the anticipated pipeline of ScotWind projects.

Forth Ports also outlined its commitment and the actions it is taking to achieve a Net Zero carbon operation by 2042 with an interim target of achieving carbon neutral emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 2032, while creating an infrastructure platform to help accelerate the UK’s path to a decarbonised economy. 

Tags: Forth Ports