£2.6bn offshore wind farm in Moray ‘will bring £530m to Scottish economy’ – Herald

Research into a £2.6 billion offshore windfarm in Moray estimates it will

bring £530 million to the Scottish economy.

The analysis saw SSE and Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd (Bowl), carry out

an assessment of the scheme which will result in 84 turbines being

installed in the Outer Moray Forth

The project was given consent in March 2014 followed by an investment

contract by the UK government in May of the same year.

Research on the social return on the investment (SROI) said the £2.6bn

investment is expected to add £1.13bn to UK GDP and support full-time

employment in the UK.

Paul Cooley, SSE head of generation development, said: “As a UK-based

energy company we strongly believe that our investment in much-needed

energy infrastructure can benefit the wider society.

“The findings of the report show that our spending on the project will not

just benefit the wider UK supply chain, but also the Scottish supply chain

and the local communities near the wind farm.

“This research offered SSE their first chance to understand the social

return on investment of the community fund, and we were thrilled to see

that the fund should help create more value for the community.”

The foundations are being put into place for the project, which will be

fully operational in 2019

SSE says the farm’s 84 wind turbine being assembled at Nigg Energy Park

will be able to generate enough energy to power up to 450,000 homes.

Scottish Government Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy Paul

Wheelhouse said: “On a national scale, the Beatrice project is set to

inject £530 million into the Scottish economy, as well as providing clean

energy to thousands of homes.

“The significant benefits to the Highland and Moray regions will be felt

for a long time to come, as those areas are set to benefit from over £6

million in community projects, as well as the creation of over 800 jobs

during the construction phase, including assembly work at Nigg Energy Park,

and around 90 long-term jobs during the operations and maintenance phase,

which will produce a particular boost to employment at Wick harbour.”