£100m infrastructure investment paves way for Cromarty Firth renewables push with potential to support 'thousands' of jobs
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A £100m investment in infrastructure over the past decade leaves Cromarty Firth businesses perfectly placed to grab a share of billions of pounds worth of renewable energy work capable of generating and sustaining thousands of jobs.
That's the upbeat view of the Invergordon-based Port of Cromarty Firth, which is keen to secure freeport status as part of a wider Opportunity Cromarty Firth partnership working to the decarbonisation agenda.
The Scottish government meanwhile has flagged its own "green ports" concept – requiring businesses to commit to paying a living wage and supporting sustainable and inclusive growth in communities in return for the advantages given.
Joanne Allday, the strategic business development manager for the Port of Cromarty Firth, said: "Where we can make a difference is we have a sustainable 50-year pipeline of multi-billion pound renewable energy projects that will be built out on our doorstep.In the first 10 years we have invested over £100m in creating the right facilities and the track record to support these projects and we have achieved that – so we are in the right place with the right facilities and the right supply chain that has the right skills."
She said: “We have four projects at the moment – the green hydrogen hub, the advanced steel manufacturing hub at Nigg, the serial manufacturing facilities for offshore wind at Invergordon and we are also developing an advanced research and development centre and education facility.
“So everything is based around these projects and it is now about optimising them and we genuinely believe that freeports gives us the opportunity to generate even more jobs and business opportunities from those incredible set of projects."
The group aims to bid to obtain leases from Crown Estates Scotland for locations that have already been approved by Marine Scotland.
She said: “Those awards of those sites will be given in the autumn and 10GW of sites will be awarded – that is ten times the size of Moray East, which is a £2.6 billion infrastructure project.We believe that this is at least £26bn worth of projects. The Scottish Government has been more conservative and they think it is going to be at least £8bn.
“We are talking about thousands of jobs.
“The Scottish Government has stated that fair work principle such as the real living wage and business pledge, will be critical aspects for green port applicants to subscribe to.
“Opportunity Cromarty Firth is focused on generating new high value and skilled employment opportunities linked to the growing offshore renewable industry, therefore providing quality employment conditions and rights will be central to achieving this.”
Ross-based Highland MSP Maree Todd has backed the "specially tailored" green port idea flagged by the Scottish government.
She said: "A green port would be positive for the Highlands and would aid us in our economic recovery from Covid-19. However, as positive a development this would be for the area, it would not offset the damage that Brexit has and will continue to inflict on the region.The Scottish Government is working hard to mitigate the damage caused by an extreme Tory Brexit, but with limited devolved powers, it’s currently operating with one hand tied behind its back.
“The only way to protect our interests, secure a strong economic recovery as we emerge from the pandemic, and regain the full benefits of EU membership is with the full powers of independence.”
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Green ports vision outlined by Ross-based MSP
